asked the Minister for Education if it is proposed to permit vocational education committees to pay a bonus to the part-time teachers in their employment; and, if so, what will be the amount of such bonus.

The question of permitting vocational education committees to pay an emergency bonus to part-time teachers in their employment is at present under consideration by my Department in consequence of a request received from one of these committees, but I am not yet in a position to make any announcement on the subject. If it is found possible to grant permission for the payment of such a bonus, the committees will be notified as soon as a decision is reached.

Does the Minister expect to have an early decision on the matter?

Well, yes.

And would the provisions be retrospective in the same way as the others?

I could not answer that at the moment.

asked the Minister for Education if he will state in respect of each class in each of the schools—(1) Roll No. 1795 Central Model (Infants); (2) 12448 Gardiner Street Convent; (3) 15056 North William Street Convent (Girls); (4) 15816 North William Street Convent (Boys); (5) 16000 Lower Rutland Street (Senior Girls); (6) 16002 Lower Rutland Street (Infant Girls); (7) 16001 Lower Rutland Street (Infant Boys); (8) 15999 Lower Rutland Street (Senior Boys); (9) 14768 St. Patrick's (No. 2) Drumcondra; (a) the standard of the class, (b) the number of pupils on the roll on Thursday, the 25th February, 1943, and (c) the number in attendance on the same date during (1) the morning session, and (2) the afternoon session; and if he will state the total number on the roll and the total morning and afternoon attendance in each school on the same date, and the number of teachers in the school.

A tabular statement giving the statistics sought by the Deputy for 1st March, 1943, the nearest date to the 25th February for which figures are available, will be circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:—

1795.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—10.

12448.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—27.

Roll No. 15056.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—10

15816.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—15.

16000.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—10

* A section of this standard is taught for 2 hours per day on 3 days and for 1½ hours on 2 days per week by Principal Teacher.

ROLL No. 16002.

Total Number of Teachers on Staff—8.

Roll No. 16001.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—9.

15999.

Total Number of Teachers on Staff—11.

Roll No. 14268.

Total number of Teachers on Staff—5

Will the Minister say if the 1st March was a Thursday?

I could not say.