ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISIONERS OF EDUCATION IN IRELAND. <lb/>

result is the substantial decrease of £114 10s. 4d in the arrears - £114 0s 7d on the<lb/> Rental Proper, and 9s. 9d on the Bog Rental. We note this pronounced improvement<lb/> with satisfaction, and it is to the Agent's credit that in 31 cases he collected more<lb/> than a year's rent, thereby reducing the arrears by £140 1s. 5d. Further, this is<lb/> the seventh consecutive year in which a greater or less reduction has been effected.<lb/> All this is in the Agent's favour, but we must point out that in eight cases absolutely<lb/> no rent was collected -notwithstanding the instruction repeatedly issued that all<lb/> tenants should be made pay at least something each year - and in one case less than<lb/> a year's rent was collected. New arrears to the extent of £28 0s. 10d.were thus<lb/> allowed to accrue. Again on the Bog Rental, out of 264 lettings, no rent was<lb/> collected in 49 cases. As this is a large proportion of defaulters, we asked the Agent<lb/> for an explanation and he replied to the following effect:-r (1) Rental Proper. That<lb/> two tenants, the sum of whose rents amounts to £4 5s.3d., had paid since the returns<lb/> were furnished; that four he expected to pay soon; that one had promised to pay the<lb/> arrears with the next rent; and that in one case an Ejectment Decree had been<lb/> obtained. (2) Bog Rental: - That the tenants promised but did not pay in time to<lb/> be included; that several had paid since, and that he hoped for further payments<lb/> shortly.

We have again expressed to the Agent our opposition to the growth of new<lb/> arrears, and we have issued special instructions with regard to the Bog Rent which<lb/> should result in a more effective collection.

All which we have the honour to submit to Your Excellency as our Report in<lb/> the premises.

Sealed with our Common Seal at a Meeting<lb/> held this 12th day of April, 1916, and<lb/> forwarded for submission to Your Excel-<lb/> lency on the same date.

Present when the Seal was affixed - <lb/> James H Stronge Chairman<lb/>

PJ Byrne<lb/> M A <unclear>Goligher</unclear> Commissioners<lb/> J C Mac <unclear>Gisiley</unclear><lb/> Arthur Webb<lb/> J L Morrow<lb/>

Stanislaus Murphy <lb/> Secretary