§ 6. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the number of first-class teachers in county Meath who were placed in first or first-of-first grade in 1900 in the case of schools whose averages were under fifty; were any of those teachers reduced to second grade salary through the average falling below thirty-five; and was any swing allowed?
§ The CHIEF SECRETARY for IRELAND (Mr. Birrell)The Commissioners of National Education inform me that seventeen first-class teachers in county Meath serving in schools with an average attendance of less than fifty were placed in the first grade in 1900. Two of these were placed in the first section and fifteen in the second section of the grade. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his similar question on 25th May last.
§ 7. Mr. PATRICK WHITEasked the Chief Secretary whether he will state the total number of first-class teachers in Meath whose salaries have at any time been reduced owing to a fall of average below thirty-five; when was this average of thirty-five originally fixed; what was the population of Meath then and what is it now; whether he will place on the Estimates the amount necessary to restore their salaries to these teachers and allow a swing of ten or fifteen to operate in future cases; if there is any precedent in the public service for reducing salaries by 20 per cent. owing to a reduction of work of 1 or 2 per cent.; are the teachers so reduced long in the service and are they deemed efficient teachers; and will he say if a first-class 523 teacher in a school of thirty-five has his full salary and the help of an assistant, while a first-class teacher in a school of thirty-four has his salary reduced and has to do all the work besides?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that it is not feasible to give the information asked for in the first paragraph of the question. The rule fixing thirty-five as the minimum average attendance necessary to retain the services of a first-class teacher first appears in the Regulations in 1860. The population of county Meath in 1861 was 110,373, and 65,091 in 1911. It is not possible to estimate the amount of salary lost by the teachers owing to the operation of this rule. The reduction of salary on account of a continued fall in average attendance is independent of length of service and efficiency. The answer to the final paragraph is in the negative. If there is a junior assistant in a school with an average attendance of thirty-five the salary of such assistant is not withdrawn until the average has fallen by more than five units. The salary of a first-class teacher is not granted unless the average is at least fifty, and is not reduced until the average falls below thirty-five.
§ Mr. O'DONNELLCan the right hon. Gentleman hold out any hope that teachers of the very highest rank will have some consideration given to their service when the attendance falls below the prescribed number?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI can assure the hon. Member that that part of the case is not being lost sight of either by myself or by the National Commissioners, but I cannot give any promise.
9. Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland have issued any rules as to the use of books other than Rules 124 (a) and (b); if so, can he state them; whether Nelson's publications, notably the New Royal Readers, are condemned by the Board although they contain nothing contrary to Rule 124; and, if so, will he state for what reasons they are condemned?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that they have not issued any rule on the subject other than Rule 124 of the Code. Sanction for the use of the books in question has 524 been withdrawn, as they do not comply with the Commissioners' present requirements, which are to be found stated in a Memorandum issued by the Commissioners, a copy of which I shall be happy to send to the hon. and gallant Member.
§ 13. Mr. KINGasked whether fees are paid by or for scholars in any of the elementary schools in Ireland; and, if so, in how many schools; in respect of how many children in the aggregate; and to what aggregate amount are fees paid?
§ Mr. BIRRELLIn the year 1913 school fees were paid for instruction during school hours in 145 ordinary national schools and in 68 model schools. These fees were paid in respect of 11,005 children in ordinary schools and of 7,075 in model schools. The aggregate amount of fees was £1,892 in ordinary schools and £1,501 in model schools.
§ Mr. KINGIs it necessary that there should be an authorisation from the Chief Secretary to charge these fees in these schools?
§ Mr. BIRRELLNo, Sir.