§ Mr. O'SHEEasked whether the Commissioners of National Education and of Intermediate Education in Ireland usually advertise vacancies in the Irish Press; why does the Department of Agricultural Instruction not do so; how many officials of the Department have left its service in order to take up similar appointments in England; who has been appointed to fill the vacancy recently caused by the resignation of Mr. Smaile; how many scholarships, commercial and industrial, have been given out of the funds of the Department up to date; how many inspectorships, and headships of technical schools under the Department are now filled by Irishmen; and how many by other persons?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education, the Intermediate Education Board and the Department, of Agriculture advertise certain vacancies on their staffs in the Irish Press when necessary. Eight officials of the Department of Agriculture, excluding clerks, left its service to take up appointments in England. The vacancy caused by the resignation of Mr. Smail has been filled by the promotion of Mr. McCaffery, one of the junior inspectors of technical instruction. Twenty-four commercial and twenty-two industrial scholarships, have been awarded by the Department. Eight of the technical instruction inspectors are Irishmen, three are not Irish, and there is now one vacancy. The Department has no information as regards the headships of technical schools.