§ Mr. CULLINANasked the Chief Secretary whether, under the civil disabilities rule of the Commissioners of National Education, it is an offence for national teachers to contribute individually or through their organisation to political funds; if so, what is the form of punishment meted out to offenders; and why is it not given in the rules and regulations of the Commissioners?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI have communicated with the Commissioners of National Education who inform me that they cannot undertake to answer hypothetical questions as to the bearing of their rules. If any particular case is submitted to them they will consider it.
§ Mr. GUINEYasked the Chief Secretary if he will state whether it is the usual custom to managers of national schools to appoint teachers without submitting the teachers' qualifications to the Board of Education, as has been the case at Newmarket female school; whether he has yet learned if the teacher who took charge of this school on the 12th instant is qualified; and has she a certificate, to teach Irish?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the appointments of teachers are notified to the Commissioners by the managers, and that, on receipt of the necessary particulars, the qualifications of the candidates are considered. If the candidates are not qualified under the Commissioners' Rules the appointments are not ratified. The name of the teacher appointed to the post of principal of Newmarket Girls' National School, county Cork, has not yet been notified to the Commissioners.