§ Sir JOHN LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland to state the number of schools in Ireland with the following averages, fifty and upwards and seventy and upwards; the number of teachers recognised in second-of-first and first-of-first grades, respectively: whether the numbers in those grades are stationary; and, if so, can he explain Rule 102 (c), which states that the number of teachers recognised in such grade above the third is fixed from time to time by the Commissioners, under arrangement with the Treasury, and state the nature of this arrangement?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that there are 3,718 schools (exclusive of Poor Law Union and industrial schools) with an average of fifty pupils and upwards, and 1,701 with an average of seventy pupils and upwards. On 31st December, 1911r there were 815 teachers recognised in the second division of the first grade, and 590 in the first division of the first grade. The maximum number of teachers that can be recognised in the grades above the third grade are fixed with the approval of the Treasury. As stated in reply to the hon. Baronet's question on this subject on 26th October, 1911, the Irish Government informed the Commissioners that they were prepared to recommend to the Treasury a limited expansion of the standard numbers at present fixed for the first grade on the understanding that no further promotions were made to that grade save on the occurrence of vacancies. The Commissioners, however, declined the 273W offer, and no further action has since been taken in the matter.