§ Mr. BYRNEasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland whether the Commissioners of National Education, at their special meeting on the 28th December last, recommended to the Treasury that those assistant teachers who are in receipt of the bonus of £9 and capitation of £8 15s. and who are to be deprived of these amounts under the proposed new scheme, should be paid amounts in lieu of these sums; if the Treasury has sanctioned these payments; whether he is aware that these amounts were granted under an Act passed in 1892; and if this was one of the chief objections to the proposed new scheme for education in Ireland?
§ Mr. DUKEThe new grade salaries for assistant teachers, as recommended by the Irish Government to and approved by the Treasury, were based on the assumption that the bonus additions to salaries formerly payable under the Irish Educa-52W tion Act, 1892, would become incorporated with the new grade salaries. The Government were advised that there is no legal obligation to pay these bonuses in addition to the new grade salaries.