I beg to move for leave to introduce the Superannuation and Pensions (Amendment) Bill, 1925, which is a Bill to amend the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923 (No. 34 of 1923). It seems rather strange that a Bill of this kind should be put down in the name of a private member, but I think, when the House has heard the nature of it, it will be found that it is not a very revolutionary proposal. As it has been indicated that there will be no opposition to it at this stage. I do not propose to enter into details but to say very briefly that it is a two-clause measure which proposes to repeal sub-section (4) of Section 6 of the Superannuation and Pensions Act, 1923. Section 6-of that Act proposes among other things to give certain increases to teacher pensioners, but the effect of the sub-section which it is proposed to repeal is this, that teachers who serve in the twenty-six counties. in places like Donegal and elsewhere, and who on retiring on pension went to live with their friends in Derry or some other portion of the six counties, are not eligible to receive increases which they otherwise would receive. Sub-section (4) is as follows:—"No increase of pension shall be payable by virtue of this Section in respect of any period during which the pensioner is not ordinarily resident in Saorstát Eireann." It is a strange thing that in all the Pension Acts which we have passed no such provision seems to operate against any set of pensioners except these old teacher pensioners. A return was given a few weeks ago to Deputy Sir James Craig, in which the names of 25 pensioners, the total number that would be affected by this Bill in the Northern area, were set out. It shows that the ordinary pension which they are receiving is £43 per annum on an average. A certain number are getting an increase under the British Pensions (Increase) Act of an average of about £8. If this Section were repealed it would mean that these 25 pensioners would get an increase approximately of £11 on an average. The total cost of the measure, so far as these 25 people would be concerned, would be £275 per annum. That would be paid from the Teachers' Pension Fund, to which the teachers contribute a certain share. It derives its income also from certain moneys set aside in 1879. There is also an annual subsidy voted by the Dáil to that fund. One of the items which is voted is a 15 per cent. contribution of the total expenditure. That would mean, assuming that £300 was paid annually from the Teachers' Pension Fund, that the extra cost to be voted by the State under this Bill would be £45 and the number of persons affected would be roughly from 25 to 30. I therefore ask the House to give leave to have this Bill printed and circulated.
PRIVATE BUSINESS. - SUPERANNUATION AND PENSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1925.—FIRST STAGE.
Mr. O'CONNELL
Despite the fact that the Deputy has made a Second Reading speech we will not oppose the Bill.
Leave given to introduce the Bill.
Bill read a First Time.
Second Stage ordered for Wednesday, March 4th.