asked the Minister for Education whether any decision has yet been reached on the question of pensions for secondary teachers.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - SECONDARY TEACHERS' PENSIONS.
TOMAS MAC EOIN
A decision has been reached, as a result of which it is hoped to bring forward proposals for the establishment of a scheme of pensions for Secondary Teachers, to which both the teachers and the schools will contribute. The details have yet to be worked out, and this may take some time.
Will the Minister say how long that may be expected to take?
I am afraid not, because legislation may be necessary.
I mean the working out of the scheme, apart from legislation.
Even on that I could not put a definite limit.
Say, within three months?
I hope so.
I am rather hopeful that we can get some assurance from the Minister that, having come to a decision, there will not be the same delay as was entailed by the inquiry.
There has been no undue delay so far as the inquiry is concerned. It is a complicated matter. It is possible that teachers approaching the age of 65 may think of retiring. They will be the people affected by any delay. That is, assuming that the scheme will be accepted by the Dáil, it may be possible to make some kind of provision so that teachers about the age of 65, who may retire, with the sanction of the Minister for Education, after that date could get any benefits that might accrue under this scheme. I put forward that so that no delay might prejudice any people in connection with that decision.