Captain CRAIGasked the Chief Secretary whether he can state the reason why certain national school teachers in Ireland have been denied payment of their earned increase of good service salary under the Board's Rules 105 (a) and 108 (b); whether it is in consequence of any action by the Treasury; if so, can he state the total amount withheld from the teachers to date; and if it is intended that such outstanding indebtedness to individual teachers will be met at a future date?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe postponement of increments of salary is caused by the limitation of the number of teachers in the different grades. It would take a considerable time to determine the amount withheld from the teachers in consequence of this limitation. As vacancies occur the2678W higher salaries are awarded to the teachers who, though promoted, were prevented from receiving the remuneration attached to their grades.