asked the Minister for Education if he will give a return showing (a) the number of women teachers who have been compulsorily retired on pension in consequence of the regulation which came into operation on October 1st, 1938; (b) the number of women principals who, since January 1st, 1935, were recognised as privileged assistants consequent on the amalgamation of their schools with neighbouring boys' schools; (c) the number of girls' schools formerly staffed entirely by lay teachers which, since 1935, have come under the control of religious teaching orders; (d) the number of women teachers who have been compulsorily retired since 1934 consequent on their marriage; (e) the number of trained women teachers at present employed (1) as junior assistant mistresses, and (2) as additional lay assistants (supernumeraries) in convent national schools; (f) the number of two-teacher schools in which, since January, 1935, the assistant teacher has been replaced by a junior assistant mistress.

The statistics which the Deputy has asked for are being prepared by my Department and will be supplied to him as soon as possible.