§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland on what grounds did the National Board only allow £109 annual income in 1901 to the principal teacher of Moylough boys' national school, county Sligo, Roll No. 13831, instead of £132 12s. which he would be entitled to under the rules in force prior to 1900, seeing that the National Board in 1900 made special provision by which highly classed teachers under the rules hitherto in force were to be specially dealt with on their appointments to principalships, that the Resident Commissioner of National Education publicly promised that none of the existing teachers under the rules in force prior to 1900 would suffer by the introduction of the new rules in 1900, and that this school was at that time a first-grade school, and will he consider the advisability of making representations to the National Board to inquire into the merits of the case of this teacher, seeing that he was a highly classed teacher under the rules in force prior to 1900, that he is now deprived of £13 annual income by the operation of the standard numbers rule, and that the school since his appointment to it as principal has become a first-of-first grade school both in attendance and reports?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commisioners of National Education cannot admit that Mr. Cahill would have been entitled to £132 12s. under the rules in operation 2331W prior to 1900, or that he has suffered pecuniarily under the new rules. Mr. Cahill was not appointed principal teacher until 27th June, 1901, and he had been previously only assistant teacher with a salary of £65 per annum. As principal of Moy-lough school he was granted an increase of £29 per annum, making his salary £94 per annum exclusive of capitation grant. His present salary is £107 per annum exclusive of capitation and augmentation grant. The increases of salary are in accordance with the regulations referred to in the question, and have been granted after due consideration of the teacher's educational attainments and the character of the school. Mr. Cahill was promoted on 1st April last to the second division of first grade, but he has not yet received the salary of that grade as there is no vacancy.