§ Mr. BOLANDasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland what fees wore awarded by the inspector to the late principal teacher of the Kenmare Boys' School for mathematics as an extra for the year ending 30th June, 1911; whether the Commissioners of National Education require eighty half-hour lessons to be given per year, and at the rate of two lessons each week that the school is in operation, to entitle to payment; whether he is aware that the aforesaid 164W school was closed, exclusive of vacations, recognised holidays, and fair-days, one month by order of the medical officer of Kenmare and Dr. Browne, of the Local Government Board, to prevent the spread of the measles epidemic, one week for the necessary repairs to the school, and two days for their Majesties' Coronation, and that on one day the school was used as a polling station for the rural district council; and whether the Commissioners are justified in depriving the teacher of his fees for not giving the required number of lessons under these circumstances, when was this decision given, and who were the Commissioners who adjudicated?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that the inspector recommended, as the result of his test of the mathematics class, that no fees should be awarded for first and second years' courses, but that full fees should be awarded for the third years' course. The Commissioners require that at least forty extra hours' instruction must be given, and the teaching of the extra branch must continue throughout the entire school year. Each lesson must be of at least half an hour's duration. The facts as to the closing of the school are as stated. As the minimum requirement in regard to instruction was not complied with the Commissioners could not pay the fees. The decision was given under the provisions of the Rules of the Commissioners, and was conveyed to the managers of the school on the 5th September last.