§ Mr. JOHN MURPHYasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can ascertain how many junior assistant mistresses in national schools have been paid £4 each in accordance with the terms of the Supplemental Estimate of 27th July, 1908; in view of the fact that the name, junior assistant mistress, only came into existence on the 1st July, 1906, are junior mistresses who have given efficient service prior to that date as manual instructresses, work-mistresses, or assistants, eligible for this grant for the year ending 31st March, 1908; if so, how many such have been paid £4 each; if not; what is the amount of the unexpended balance of the £4,064 allotted for payment of the junior assistant mistresses for the year ended March, 1908; and what has been done or what is to be done with this balance?
§ Mr. BIRRELL:The Commissioners of National Education inform me that 546 junior assistant mistresses were paid £4 each in accordance with the terms of the Supplementary Estimate of 27th July, 1908. In all of these cases the necessary qualifying efficient service was composed partly of service rendered as manual instructresses or as assistants. Work-mistresses are not entitled to any share of the grant and consequently service as work-mistresses in the case of 20 junior assistants was not recognised. There are certain exceptional cases of junior assistant mistresses still unpaid, and correspondence is proceeding in regard to them. Unexpended balances from Parliamentary Votes are returned to the Treasury.