I move:
That a supplementary sum not exceeding £60,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1963, for Primary Education, including National School Teachers' Superannuation, etc.
This Supplementary Estimate is necessary to meet the cost of additional grants to the training colleges and increases in the rates of annual bonus payable to national school teachers in respect of special qualifications.
A major scheme for the provision of new premises is at present in hand in the case of St. Patrick's Training College, Drumcondra. The cost will, in the first instance, be met by way of a bank loan and the State will refund this total cost, as to principal and interest, over a period of years. The additional sum required in this supplementary estimate includes £21,000 approximately as a first payment in respect of such refund. The balance represents increased provision to enable the training colleges to meet additional current expenditure, including the cost of increased salaries to the teaching staff as from 1 November, 1961.
Following the acceptance by the Government of the finding of the Chairman of the Arbitration Board, which sat on 11th and 12th October, 1962, the rates of annual bonus payable to national school teachers in respect of special qualifications were increased, with effect from 1 November, 1961. The annual additional cost of the revised rates of bonus is estimated at £20,000. In the financial year 1962-3 the additional cost is £27,000, since payment for the five months from 1 November, 1961, to 31 March, 1962, is also included in the payments in that year.
The gross total additional provision now required is, therefore, £69,000 but net savings of £9,000 approximately are anticipated in the other subheads of the vote, thus placing the net additional provision required at £60,000.
