§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Chief Secretary how many examiners were employed by the Intermediate Education Board of Ireland for the purpose of last year's examination, and what was the entire amount of money spent on their remuneration; how many of these examiners were persons residing outside of Ireland, and what proportion of the examiners' fees went to such persons; will he give the like particulars in regard to the French examiners especially; whether any of the English Education Boards are in the habit 818W of employing examiners living outside of England to the like extent that the Irish Intermediate Board employs those living-out of Ireland; whether he will arrange to have the entire intermediate examinations conducted by men and women living in Ireland; and whether, seeing that the Intermediate Board was established for the purpose of encouraging education in Ireland, he will use his influence to see that the incentive to qualify in the higher educational subjects, which the knowledge that some of them would ultimately get intermediate examinerships would be to many young Irish men and women, will be used as effectively as possible?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of Intermediate Education inform me that 96 examiners were employed by them for the purpose of the examinations held in June, 1908, and that 14 of these were resident out of Ireland. There were 13 examiners in French, of whom seven were resident out of Ireland. The total remuneration paid to all examiners was £6,368 1s. 6d., of which £946 11s., or 14.86 per cent., was paid to those resident out of Ireland. The total remuneration of the examiners in French was £944 10s., including £527 6s., or 55.82 per cent., paid to those resident out of Ireland. The selection of examiners is a matter for the Commissioners, and I am not in a position to say how their practice compares with that of English educational authorities as regards the point referred to in the question.