§ 106. Mr. LYNCHasked whether the system of making the average attendance operative in the grading of national teachers in Ireland will be modified during the present exceptional conditions, in view of the hardship it inflicts on many teachers?
§ Mr. DUKEIn cases where it is shown that circumstances arising out of the War have caused abnormal irregularity in the attendance of pupils at national schools a concession has been sanctioned whereby the figure for the average attendance of pupils for the year to be taken into account when determining the claims of teachers for increments of salary and for promotions in grade shall be that found by assuming that the average attendance of pupils for the year in question bore the same proportion to the average number of pupils on the rolls of the school for that year as was the case for the corresponding period before the War commenced. The special Regulation giving effect to the concession provides also for the protection of teachers against loss of position or reduction in their existing grade salaries consequent upon any falling-off in the attendance of pupils at the schools which can be shown to be due to the effects of the War.