§ Mr. NANNETTIasked the Chief Secretary what cause the junior inspector assigned in 1910 for the reduction of the 1969W merit mark awarded by the senior inspector in 1908 and by the district inspector in 1909 to Mr. Charles McCarthy, senior assistant, East Wall Boys' School, Dublin, as none appeared in the report furnished to the manager or to the teacher; whether it is possible that the circular issued by the Board to inspectors in June, 1911, re changing of previous merit marks, may hare done a further injustice to this teacher; and, if so, will the Commissioners consider the advisability of immediately promoting this teacher of many years highly efficient service?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the inspector who assigned the merit mark to Mr. McCarthy in 1910 did not furnish any special reason for his action, which, presumably, he regarded as warranted by an examination of this teacher's work in the school. The mark thus given was supported in 1911 by a district inspector at a further examination of the school and in 1912 by a senior inspector, both of whom assigned the same mark. The Commissioners do not consider that their circular of June, 1911, to the inspectors has done any injustice to this teacher. As the promotion of assistant teachers is only made in exceptional circumstances the Commissioners are not prepared to consider Mr. McCarthy's immediate promotion in view of the character of the reports on his school work.
§ Mr. KERR-SMILEYasked the Chief Secretary what are the teaching qualifications of the nuns who have been put in charge of the Roman Catholic girls' and infants' schools at Ballycastle, county Antrim, and to make room for whom trained and efficient school mistresses were dismissed by the manager, in spite of the Maynooth Resolution?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the staff of the school referred to consist of three nuns and a junior assistant mistress. One nun is a trained teacher under the English Education Board. The other two nuns were recognised as teachers under the English Board of Education. The junior assistant mistress is duly qualified under the National Education Board.
§ Mr. KERR-SMILEYasked the Chief Secretary if the Commissioners of National Education give effect to the seventy-second recommendation of the Powis Royal Commission, and if the rule that 1970W the Commissioners grant aid to one school only in connection with the same convent is still in force?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The rule referred to in the concluding portion was abolished in 1884.