§ Mr. O'DONNELLasked the Chief Secretary what is the number of assistant teachers in Ireland discontinued in the last two years owing to reduction in the average attendance; what is the cost of the training of those teachers to the State; whether these men nearly all emigrate or seek other employment, thus causing the State to lose the whole cost 2194W of their training; whether he will impress on the Treasury the wisdom as well as the justice of allowing a swing of, say, ten in the average attendance before assistants already in the service are discontinued?
§ Mr. BIRRELLSalary was withdrawn from 134 assistant teachers, of whom seventy-two were trained, in the two years ended 31st December, 1910, owing to fall in the average attendance at their schools. Of this number fifty-five have been reappointed. The cost of the training of the teachers not reappointed was £2,825. The Commissioners of National Education have no official information as to what becomes of the teachers not reappointed. The question of a modification of the rule as to the tenure of assistant teachers is the subject of a correspondence between-the Irish Government and the Treasury.