§ Mr. KERR-SMILEYasked the Chief Secretary the grade and class of Miss Maguire, the principal of Ballycastle infant school, who has been superseded by nuns; the average attendance at her late school for the year ending 31st March, 1913; the average attendance at the school which she has been offered for the same period; her highest possible income in the school which she has been offered but refused; her annual loss financially had she accepted the same school which was offered to her; whether the nuns who have displaced the lay schoolmistresses at 2266W Ballycastle are trained and certificated teachers, or members of an order that possesses no certificates or evidences of teaching competency; and what savings to the Treasury will be annually effected by the displacement of the lay schoolmistresses at Ballycastle?
§ Mr. BIRRELLThe Commissioners of National Education inform me that Miss Maguire ranks in the second section of the first grade, and in the first division of the first class (old regulations). The average attendance of pupils at Bally-castle infants' national school for the year ended 31st March, 1913, was 61. The average attendance at Glenshesk national school, which was offered to Miss Maguire by the manager, was 18 for the same period. The highest possible salary which could be granted to Miss Maguire on an average attendance of less than 20 pupils is £51 per annum, whilst her emoluments in her former school amounted to £115. If, however, as appears likely, the average attendance at Glenshesk national school reached 20, Miss Maguire would as teacher of that school be entitled to the salary of the second grade, and in that case the loss would be at least £12 per annum. The Commissioners are not in a position to snake any statement as to the qualifications of the nuns whom the manager proposes to place in charge of Ballycastle infants' national school as no particulars on the subject have yet been received. The proposed changes have not yet been sanctioned by the Commissioners. The estimated cost of payment to nuns at a capitation rate of 30s. per pupil per annum on combined averages of the Ballycastle girls' and infants' schools is £141 per annum, exclusive of residual capitation Grant. This is the minimum rate of payment, and the rate might ultimately reach 40s. The cost of the schools under lay teachers was £259 per annum, exclusive of residual capitation Grant, which is a fixed rate.