asked the Minister for Finance if he is yet in a position to state when he will introduce a scheme of pensions for lay assistants in Convent and Monastery Schools and junior assistant mistresses in ordinary National Schools.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - PENSIONS FOR LAY ASSISTANTS AND J.A.M.'s.
I can only refer the Deputy to the answer I gave to the question on this subject addressed to me by Deputy O'Connell on the 10th July last. The actuary's report referred to therein has been received and is at present being examined in my Department.
Would the Minister state when was the actuary's report published, and will the Minister further state when he intends to publish this report, because I understand at the moment that no progress whatever has been made?
The report has not been published, but it will be published shortly.
Will the Minister say when the report will be made available to the body principally interested in the matter—the National teachers?
I could not say. I do not contemplate making it available to them before publication. They would get it, of course, when published.
But will the Minister not agree that they are specially interested in the matter, as they are subscribers to the fund?
Yes.
Will the Minister state if, in view of the fact that all these teachers are fully certificated, having the same diplomas as the teachers in the other schools, he will see that this report is published immediately for the information of the people concerned? I would not like to raise this matter now on the adjournment, but I want to give due notice that I will ask the question again, and then if necessary I will raise it on the adjournment at a later date.