asked the Minister for Education if he will state for what reason Kevin Hall and Thomas F. Whyte, who were appointed pupil teachers at the Christian Brothers' Schools, Wexford, in September, 1926, and completed their period of teaching in July, 1927, were not paid their salary in accordance with paragraph 12 of the Pupil Teachers (New) Scheme, issued by the Department of Education, which states that grants to pupil teachers shall be paid in four instalments, at the end of each quarter.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - GRANTS TO PUPIL TEACHERS.
Pupil teachers (New Scheme) are appointed subject to a declaration being signed by the pupil teacher and a guarantee being given by the parent or guardian that the pupil teacher will endeavour to qualify himself thoroughly for service as teacher in National Schools in An Saorstát.
Grants, not salary, at the rates set out in the regulations are made to pupil teachers whose parents or guardians have not sufficient means to pay for their secondary education.
The pupil teachers in question were appointed exceptionally for a one year's course, and no application for a grant was received from or on their behalf during the year for which they were appointed. At the end of the year, although they passed the Leaving Certificate examination, they did not enter a training college for teachers, and thus they failed to carry out their undertakings.
In these circumstances it has not been possible to consider the question of the award to them of the grant provided for in the regulations.