asked the Minister for Education if he is now in a position to state whether proposals will be introduced, at an early date, for the purpose of increasing the pensions paid to retired teachers, especially where the amount of pension payable does not exceed £3 a week.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retired Teachers' Pensions.
I have nothing to add to the reply which I have already given to similar questions regarding this matter in which I explained that the claims of retired national school teachers for increased pensions could not be considered alone and apart from similar claims by other classes of superannuated public servants. Any question of improving their position would, necessarily, depend on the Government deciding to review the question of pensions generally and no such decision has been taken.
Would it not be perfectly practicable at least to segregate as a separate class the teachers who retired prior to the new salary rates fixed in 1918 who are now a rapidly dwindling body and many of whom are living on less than £1 a week? Inasmuch as they are a dwindling body to which no additions can possibly be made and that they are very old, decent and respectable people, surely it would be possible to segregate them into a class and do something for them?
The Government has considered this matter, but it is not felt that we can deal with this particular class, however sympathetic we may be to their claims, without considering the claim of other persons similarly circumstanced.
There are not any other persons similarly circumstanced. The pre-1918 men and women are in a most deplorable condition. They will be all dead before you do anything for them.