§ Mr. LONSDALEasked the Chief Secretary if he is aware that disappointment has been occasioned to National School teachers in Ireland by the announcement that no provision is made in the Estimates of the coming year for the payment of their salaries monthly; is he aware that the practice of paying salaries monthly is in vogue in Great Britain; and will he explain how the proposed change from quarterly to monthly payments would involve an additional charge of £285,000?
§ Mr. BIRRELLI am aware that disappointment exists amongst national school teachers in Ireland. In England and Scotland teachers are paid by the local authorities, and I believe that, as a rule, they are paid monthly. The change from quarterly to monthly payments would involve the provision of an additional two months' salary in the first year, amounting to £177,825. Payment of eleven-twelfths of the Augmentation Grant, which, under the present system, is not paid until after the close of the year, would also have to be provided for, amounting to £107,550, thus making up the total sum of £285,375.