asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that the pensions granted to national school teachers are entirely inadequate in view of the steep rise in the cost of living since the emergency; and whether he is now more hopeful of being able to afford an increase in the pension scale.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Teachers' Pensions.
I regret that I am unable to add anything to previous replies given to questions regarding an increase to superannuated teachers.
Does the Minister advert to the fact that some superannuated teachers have pensions based on the pre-1920 scale of salaries and would he consider, without considering the general question of pensions, asking the Department of Finance to make some concession to that very limited class of persons in view of the dire distress in which they now find themselves?
I doubt very much if it is possible to make a reasonable division of pensioned teachers into categories on the lines suggested by the Deputy. Even if it were possible, I doubt very much if the concession could be granted to one particular small class without opening the question as to why it should not be extended to all classes of superannuated teachers.
Surely the Minister could distinguish between those whose pensions are based on the post-1920 scale and those whose pensions are based on the pre-1920 scale? Those on the pre-1920 scale are receiving only a few shillings per week. The pre-1920 class are receiving a very much more exiguous pension than the worst-paid teachers of the post-1920 category.
I think that is another question.