asked the Minister for Education if he proposes at an early date to increase pensions now paid to pensioned teachers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Pay and Pensions.
Mr. A. Byrne
I have communicated in a number of answers given to Deputies before the Christmas Recess that the question of granting increases in the pensions paid to national teachers had been under sympathetic consideration by the Government, but that the completion of the review of the matter and the taking of any decision was delayed pending a review of the budgetary position for the coming year.
This examination has not yet progressed sufficiently to enable any decision to be taken or any statement to be made.
Mr. Byrne
Can the Minister say whether that inquiry will be completed in time for the coming Budget?
I am not able to say so at the present time. I doubt if I shall be in a position to say anything with regard to it, say, this side of the first of April next.
Mr. Byrne
Is the Minister aware that, quite recently, a meeting of pensioned teachers was held in Dublin during which it was stated that some of them had to go on poor law relief? Will the Minister do something to speed up matters satisfactorily?
I should like to assure Deputies on all sides of the House that every circumstance of this problem is under the fullest possible sympathetic review by the Government.
asked the Minister for Education when he proposes to give increases of pay to (a) national teachers, and (b) pensioned teachers.
In my reply to Question No. 12 on to-day's Order Paper I have answered section (b) of this question. I shall take section (a) in conjunction with Question No. 14.
Mr. A. Byrne
asked the Minister for Education whether any satisfactory progress has been made with the teachers' representatives regarding the teachers' demand for improved conditions and increased pay; and, if so, whether he will now state the nature of the progress and the proposals made.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, I should like to point out that the national teachers were promised by all the Parties who now make up the Government an immediate increase after their coming into office. It looks as if that is another of those promises which have been put in abeyance, but I would point out that the teachers are suffering.
The Deputy has not yet heard the reply.
The Deputy should wait for the reply first.
It is intelligent anticipation on the Deputy's part.
The reply to question No. 14 is as follows: A committee, under the chairmanship of his Honour Judge Roe, has been set up to consider salaries and other grants, including provision on retirement, to be paid to national teachers. The committee has already had two meetings, but it is too early as yet to assess progress and the committee has not yet reached the stage when definite proposals could be formulated.
What about the answer now to the supplementary question which was asked by Deputy P. J. Burke?
I shall answer any supplementary question put to me.
Deputy Burke guessed the reply, anyway.