§ 68. Mr. JOHN WALSHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland what percentage of assistant teachers, who were trained in a recognised training college, are now in grades higher than third grade; seeing that all assistant teachers who are trained are classed higher than third class, according to Rule 109 (c) of the Commissioners' Rules, will he say why they are not correspondingly graded; considering that these teachers, in order to be trained and classed higher than third class, had to pass the highest examination now held under the National Board and that some of them have given nearly thirteen years of their most capable service to the Board in expectation of promotion to higher grade than 1705 third, will the Commissioners take such steps as will ensure a snore speedy promotion for these teachers; and what means do the Commissioners intend employing to expedite such promotion?
§ The CHIEFSECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Commissioners of National Education inform me that over 5 per cent. of the assistant teachers who were trained in a recognised training college are now in grades higher than the third grade. Assistant teachers who have been trained in a recognised training college rank as "classed higher than third class" for the purpose of qualifying for bonus under the Irish Education Act, 1892. This gives them no claim to second grade, which can be attained by assistants under exceptional circumstances only and by special order of the Commissioners. The claims of deserving assistant teachers to promotion beyond the third grade in cases of exceptional merit are carefully considered by the Commissioners.