§ Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked the Chief Secretary whether last Session a Grant of £40,000 per annum was promised by the Government to supplement the salaries of teachers in Irish secondary schools; whether the Roman Catholic Head Masters' Association declined to accept the conditions attached to the proposed. Grant; if it is for that reason it has not been included in the Estimates; whether the assistants in all other secondary schools are thus penalised; and what steps be now proposes to take in fulfilment of the Government's promise?
§ Mr. BIRRELLTime proposed Grant of £40,000 referred to by the hon. Member was promised conditionally to improve the 849W position of assistant lay teachers in Irish secondary schools. The correspondence with the Roman Catholic Headmasters' Assoociation, which has been presented to Parliament, explains the difficulties that have arisen in the matter. As I have already stated in the reply to the hon. Member for West Kerry, I propose within a few days to introduce a Bill making provision for the payment of this Grant, and if the Bill meets, as I trust it will, with general acceptance, the Grant will be included in a Supplementary Estimate.