asked the Minister for Education whether, under regulations, it is provided that the remuneration of whole-time teachers employed by vocational education committees should include such cost-of-living bonus on the Civil Service scale in each case as may be approved by the Minister for Finance; whether, in accordance with this provision, the cost-of-living bonus for vocational education officers, which up to then rose and fell automatically with the index figure, was pegged down at the figure 85 by the Local Authorities Cost-of-Living Act; 1940; and whether, now that the cost-of-living bonus for civil servants is to be calculated according to the index figure 110, he will take steps to have the full effect of the increase in the index figure granted to officers of vocational education committees in accordance with their conditions of service so that their position in relation to the bonus will be the same as it was prior to the Act of 1940, except that the bonus will be calculated at the index figure 110.
Ceisteanna.—Questions. Oral Answers. - Increased Bonus for Vocational Teachers.
These teachers are in the same position as other whole-time officers of local authorities whose remuneration includes a cost-of-living bonus, and the amount of their bonus is governed by the Local Authorities (Cost-of-Living) Act, 1940. It is intended to introduce proposals for the amendment of that Act as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made for the purpose.