asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that 25 rural domestic economy instructresses in the employment of his Department are not covered by any pension scheme; and, if so, if he will state the reasons why these officials are not pensionable as are all other State servants in similar employment, and if he will take steps forthwith to have these officials included in a suitable pension scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Domestic Economy Instructresses.
It is presumed that the Deputy's question relates to the teachers of rural domestic economy subjects who are employed by schools of rural domestic economy which receive grants from my Department and work under a programme of agricultural education approved by the Department. These teachers are not State servants. They are appointed and employed, not by the Department, but by the management of the school in each case. In view, however, of the relations subsisting between these schools and the Department, I have made efforts to secure the institution of a scheme of pensions for the teachers referred to, but I regret that the difficulties in the way of providing for a scheme of this nature have proved to be insurmountable.