§ Captain DONELANasked how many men were trained and certificated in the primary training colleges in Ireland during the five years ending 1910; how many of those so trained and certificated left Ireland to become teachers in England and Scotland, and what was the amount expended on the training of those who so left Ireland; and how many of those trained and certificated during the period referred to have been unable to obtain employment as teachers in the primary schools of Ireland, and are still unemployed?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that 1,112 men teachers were trained and certificated in the primary training colleges in Ireland during the five years ended 1910. The Commissioners are not in a position to give the information asked for with regard to the number of teachers trained and certificated who left Ireland to become teachers in England and Scotland, but it would appear that some twenty at least of the 1,112 595W teachers referred to have given probationary service for the award of a training diploma in English or Scotch schools. The cost of training these twenty men was £2,000. The Commissioners are not in a position to give with any degree of exactness the number of recently trained teachers who are at present unemployed, but from an examination of the lists for 1906 and 1907 it appears that of the 467 and 447 King's scholars who qualified as teachers at the end of their two years' course of training in those 464 and 440 subsequently obtained employment in public elementary schools, and three and seven had not secured appointments.