§ 52. Mr. MOLESasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the statement issued by the Incorporated Association of Assistant Masters in Secondary Schools in Ireland, which states that only 12 such teachers are in receipt of £300 per annum; that 212 such teachers receive salaries under £200; that over 260 receive salaries under £160; that 150 have salaries under £120; that the teaching profession in Ireland is being denuded of most of its best men; and whether, in view of the grave menace which this causes to Irish educational interests, he will see that immediate steps are taken to put secondary teachers in Ireland on an equivalent financial position to that of such teachers in England and Scotland?
§ 63. Mr. LYNNasked the Prime Minister whether he has seen a statement issued by the Ulster Headmasters' Association complaining of the delay in dealing with secondary education in Ireland; whether he is aware that, owing to the action of the Government in not proceeding with the Irish Education Bill, secondary teachers are heavily penalised; and whether he is in a position to say when Irish secondary teachers will receive similar treatment to that accorded secondary teachers in Great Britain?
§ 64. Mr. DONALDasked the Prime Minister if his attention has been drawn 2352 to a resolution passed by Irish school teachers protesting against the continued withholding of the grants admittedly owing to Irish education; and, seeing that no provision has been made in the Education Estimates of the current year, will the Government bring in a supplementary estimate in order to place Irish teachers in a position equal to that conferred upon the teachers of Great Britain under the Education Acts of 1918?
§ 65. Mr. DONALDasked the Prime Minister whether he is now in a position to state when the Government propose to deal with the question of education in Ireland; whether he is aware that Irish teachers, in order to enjoy their own advantages, are leaving Ireland for this country owing to their benefits being withheld in Ireland; and whether he is aware that over 100,000 children are without school accommodation in Ireland?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Lloyd George)I am well aware of the unsatisfactory salaries paid to Irish teachers, but the House knows that the difference in this respect between Ireland and Great Britain is that in Great Britain the local authorities bear a large part of the burden. It is for that reason the Government have introduced the Irish Education Bill, which will be proceeded with as soon as time can be found for it in this House.
§ Mr. MOLESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the claim made by these teachers, primary and secondary, is entirely dissociated from the question of local taxation and is based upon the equivalent grant, and that that grant is being withheld?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAny claim of that kind, of course, will be considered. All the same, the funds at the disposal of the education authorities in Ireland are less than those available for the same purpose in England, Scotland and Wales because the local authorities here rate themselves and in Ireland they do not rate themselves.
§ Mr. LYNNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the reason why Ireland is not rated is that the Government will not pass the Bill, although we are quite willing to be rated?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI notice that my hon. Friend did not listen to the 2353 second part of my answer. I stated that that was the reason why the Government introduced the Bill, and why they propose to proceed with it.
§ Mr. MOLESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the Government promised £97,000 in respect of secondary education and £300,000 in respect of primary education, and that neither of these sums has been paid? That is my question.
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat will be considered. I could not answer straight away without some notice.