§ Mr. MacVEAGHasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether he will state the number of teachers trained during the sessions 1914–16 that are not at present permanently employed by the National Board; the number of teachers that the Board sanctions annually for a course at the university; and the total amount annually spent on the training of teachers in Ireland?
§ Mr. DUKEFive hundred and eight King's scholars successfully completed a two years' course of training in July, 1916, and of this number 331 are permanently employed in national schools. The Commissioners of National Education have no definite information as to the remaining 177, but a considerable number of them have been serving as substitutes, and it is probable that, since the receipt of the latest returns further permanent appointments have been made. The average number of teachers admitted to a third year course of training—involving attendance at university lectures—during the past five years was twenty-six. The amount spent in the training of national school teachers in the year 1915–16 was £65,727.