asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that grave dissatisfaction exists among retired secondary teachers by reason of the undue delay of many months which occurs in the initial payment of their pensions; if he will explain the reasons for this very long delay and state whether any compensation by way of interest or otherwise is allowed therefore; further, if he will have the existing system of the calculation andpayment of these pensions examined with a view to ensuring that retired teachers will receive their pensions at the end of the first month after their retiral.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Retired Secondary Teachers' Pensions.
Under the provisions of the Secondary Teachers Superannuation (Amendment) Scheme, 1951, teachers were allowed to have all approved teaching service reckoned for pension purposes provided they paid a contribution in respect of each year of such service. The computation and the arrangements for payment by the teachers concerned of arrears of contributions have in some cases caused delay in the payment of pension.
In the normal course, however, where there are no complications in regard to payment of arrears by the teacher, I am satisfied that no undue delay takes place in the payment of a teacher's pension. I am, however, having steps taken with a view to reducing to the minimum the period between retirement and payment of pension.