asked the Minister for Education whether a regulation has been made by the Commissioners of National Education which required that the principalships of National Schools with an average of from fifty to one hundred and nineteen pupils should be confined to teachers who have given at least five years' efficient service as principal or assistant and, if so, whether he will state why the terms of this regulation were not adhered to when an appointment was being made of a principal in Rathbarry Boys' National School, Co. Cork.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - TEACHER'S APPOINTMENT TO RATHBARRY (CO. CORK) N.S.
In normal circumstances a teacher proposed for appointment as principal of a school with an attendance of from 50 to 95 children should have given five years' previous efficient service as principal or assistant teacher. In the case of Rathbarry Boys' National School in which the attendance for the year 1924 was 56, the former principal retired on the 30th June, 1925. The manager proposed the promotion in his place of Mr. Francis O'Leary, who was serving as assistant teacher in the same school and who had been performing efficient work in that capacity for a period of about three years. The manager represented that there were a number of causes operating to bring about a decline in the number of school-going children in the district, and that the average had recently been maintained above what would have been the normal figure by the continued attendance of the senior boys awaiting Confirmation which had been postponed, and it was expected that there would be a falling-off of these pupils after Confirmation. It was also contemplated to transfer the infant boys to the girls' school. In all the circumstances it seemed as if an average of 50 might not be maintained and sanction was given as an exceptional matter to the promotion of Mr. O'Leary proposed by the manager.
Mr. MURPHY
Is the Minister aware that in 1925 the average was about 60 and that it shows steady increase? Is he further aware that when an Inspector of the Department visited the school recently he was satisfied that the tale was quite different so far as the average is concerned?
The facts are as stated, but the anticipations were not borne out, and the transfer of the infant children did not take place.
Mr. MURPHY
Is the Minister aware that there was objection to that transfer owing to congestion?
That is one of the questions that is always in dispute, as to whether infant children cannot be transferred.
Mr. MURPHY
Will the Minister undertake to re-open the whole matter?
I am afraid I cannot, the teacher having been appointed.
Mr. MURPHY
Then I desire to give notice that I will raise this matter on the adjournment.