§ Sir WALTER NUGENTasked the Chief Secretary if he will make representations to the Treasury with a view to having those teachers who were promoted to the higher grades in the national schools of Ireland paid the arrears of salary due to them consequent on the operation of standard numbers, over which teachers themselves have no control?
§ Mr. BIRRELL:The answer is in the negative. Any material increase in the standard number of teachers in the first grade would eventually entail a very considerable annual charge, and teachers who have to wait for vacancies cannot be deemed to have a claim to retrospective payment.