asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that rent allowances payable to national teachers on the 1st April and 1st November in each year are usually still unpaid after two months have elapsed from these dates; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that these grants are unchanging in almost every case, he will arrange to have them paid more expeditiously in future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Grants for Teachers.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that residual grants payable to principals and vice-principals of national schools on the 1st April and 1st November in each year are usually withheld for over a month; and, if so, whether, in view of the fact that these grants are unchanging in almost every case, he will arrange to have them paid more expeditiously in future.
I propose, with your permission, to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.
The Department's regulations providé for the payment on certain conditions of annual allowances to principal and vice-principal teachers of national schools and of annual allowances in aid of rent to married men teachers and to women teachers who are widows. These annual allowances are paid. as a matter of convenience, in two instalments each year, the first in respect of the six months ending the 31st March and the second in respect of the six months ending the 30th September.
Arrangements are made to ensure that these allowances issue at the earliest possible date, but prior consideration has necessarily to be given to the regular and prompt issue of the usual payments of salaries to the general body of teachers. In each of the months of April and October, two main payments of salaries are made, namely, (a) balancing payment for the immediately preceding quarter and (b) mid-monthly payment to those teachers who have elected to be paid their salaries in twice-monthly instalments.
The number of teachers entitled to principals' allowances is considerably in excess of the number who receive rent allowances; and, following the issues of ordinary salary, referred to, priority is therefore given to payment of the former allowances, which accordingly are, as a rule, issued towards the end of April and October, respectively. These allowances were so paid in the present calendar year.
As regards the general issue of rent allowances, payment cannot be made, because of the circumstances mentioned, until after payment of principals' allowances has been dealt with. Every effort is made, however, to ensure that the teachers concerned receive rent allowances at the earliest possible date and in the great majority of cases payment is made by the middle of the months of May and November, respectively. This represents the position in regard to the payment of rent allowances during the calendar year. There are always, however, some cases in which further inquiry as to the circumstances of the applications is necessary before payment can be authorised, and in these it is not possible to issue the allowances until a later date.