§ Mr. AUGUSTINE ROCHEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he is aware that elementary evening schools in Ireland have completed their session three weeks before they have been examined in some subjects, and, seeing that a necessary percentage of those on the rolls has to be taught these subjects in order to entitle the teacher to the higher fees, is the teacher penalised if, owing to circumstances over which he has no control, the required number is not reached when the pupils are specially called together for examination; are the fees for evening schools earned from six to eight weeks before they are paid; and what is the reason of this delay?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the grants to evening schools are paid after the end of each session, and are determined as a rule by the reports of the inspectors on the schools at the end of the session. The Commissioners are not aware that undue delay takes place either in the matter1476W of payment or inspection, but if any specific case of alleged hardship in either respect is brought under their notice they will investigate it.