§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that first-of-first-class teachers under the Board of National Education, Ireland, who were, until 1900, accustomed to receive a triennial increase of salary, and entitled while giving satisfaction to expect a continuance of this and of assistance in teaching, have, in consequence of the rules of 1900 raising the minimum average attendance, received no increase since then and have been deprived of assistance, though the numbers of their pupils continue the same, and in the official reports their schools are described as excellent; whether he is aware that in some such cases a reduction of even one pupil leads to a reduction of salary; and, seeing that rules producing these effects are anti-educational, since in practice they operate only against high-class teachers, for many of whom a change of residence would mean destruction of their 553W career, if he will move to have the rules relaxed at least in favour of teachers who were in the service before those rules came into operation?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that under the system of payments in operation prior to 1900 national teachers were not entitled to triennial increments. The system of triennial increments was introduced in 1900 on the abolition of the results system of payments. In 1900 all teachers received as an initial income under the new system the average of their total incomes from all State sources for the preceding three years, and the Commissioners are of opinion that the new rules do not operate inequitably with any body of teachers, and they have expressed their willingness to investigate any cases of alleged hardship accruing to individual teachers if such cases are specially submitted to them.
§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Chief Secretary if he was now in a position to say that the teachers of national schools in Ireland will be paid their salaries monthly as from the first of next month?
§ Mr. BIRRELLAs I have already stated in reply to questions on this subject, no provision has been made in the Estimates for the coming financial year for the monthly payment of salaries of teachers. The proposed change would necessitate the provision of £285,000 for the first year, and a further increase in the Votes of over £5,000 per annum.