Michael Ring
Question:288 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when the retired teachers in County Mayo will get the 2 per cent pension increase which has been passed since May 1996. [12736/98]
Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.
I presume the Deputy is referring to the increases which arise under the restructuring pay deals made under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
The position is that the final element of the restructuring pay deals, that concerning in-school management, has only recently been agreed. Arrangements are now being made to pay the arrears of pension and retirement gratuity to eligible pensioners. It is anticipated that this work will be completed before September 1998.
Many teachers have already received an increase in their pensions. These are teachers who retired before the commencement date, 1 July 1994, of the restructuring pay deals. The Government has decided that such teachers should benefit from those pay deals on a parity basis, subject to a minimum increase of 2 per cent in their pensions.
In accordance with this decision, an increase of 2 per cent in pension, together with arrears backdated to 1 May 1996, was issued at the end of January 1998 to retired teachers whose pensions are paid by my Department. At the same time, vocational education committees were informed that they should authorise the relevant local authority to make similar payments in the case of former vocational teachers.
With regard to retired vocational teachers in County Mayo, the position is that Mayo County Council has informed my Department that the pension increase of 2 per cent, together with arrears, will be paid at the end of June 1998.