Pat Upton
Question:118 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education when it is proposed to pay the rural science honorarium to teachers entitled to this honorarium who have not been paid it for three years or more.
Written Answers. - Rural Science Honorarium.
Honoraria are payable in certain circumstances to rural science teachers employed by vocational education committees. The honoraria are paid by the vocational education committee subject to approval by my Department. Clear guidelines are laid down governing eligibility for the honoraria and the making and certifying of applications for approval. My Department has conveyed its approval for the payment of the honoraria in all cases in which the conditions set out in the guidelines have been met.
My Department has been in communication with one vocational education committee for some time in relation to a number of applications for approval which did not satisfy the prescribed criteria. Decisions will be conveyed to the vocational education committee in question when all the issues raised have been satisfactorily addressed.