§ 37 and 41. Mr. SHEEHANasked (1) whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that Patrick Galvin, the late principal teacher of Coolavokig National School, Macroom, was dismissed, after over thirty-eight years' service, because, as the manager alleges, he sent school children to a public-house for porter; was the school being whitewashed at the time, and was the statement of the teacher that he sent for necessary refreshment for the whitewasher; whether the manager agreed to reinstate the teacher on certain conditions; were these conditions fulfilled, and, if so, why did the manager withdraw from them and force out this teacher when he was within a year and a half of the time when he would be retired on full pension; will the Commissioners of National Education order an independent inquiry into all the circumstances of the case and endeavour to find a means by which the school-going children of the district may be no longer deprived of the educational facilities so necessary for them; and (2) if the Commissioners of National Education have made any inquiries as to the circumstances under which the assistant 1818 teacher of Coolavokig school, Macroom, Mrs. Mary Galvin, was refused the right to continue teaching in the school; whether he is aware that she went to attend the school on the morning of 9th October, 1912, as usual, but could not enter, as the new teacher had taken the school key the previous evening; whether, on the following morning, she went again, accompanied by some school children, but was refused admission by the district inspector of constabulary, who was within; whether it was by the order of the manager that this district inspector so acted; whether Mrs. Galvin is a first-class teacher, holding the Board's certificate in Irish, science, and all other subjects required by the Commissioners of National Education; had she previously conducted the school business with efficiency in the absence of the principal; whether any local hostility would have been exhibited had the school been left in her charge; whether the manager acted within his powers, as set forth in the rules and regulations of the Commissioners, in closing the school against her; has any decision yet been come to as to the payment of her salary; and whether the Commissioners have in any way given their sanction to the action of the manager in this matter or their approval to the appointment of the new principal teacher made by him?
§ Mr. RUSSELLThis matter will be considered by the Commissioners of National Education at their next meeting, and in the meantime it is not desirable to prejudice the case by discussing its details. I am, therefore, not in a position at present to add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to a question on the subject on the 17th instant. This answer also applies to Question No. 41.