asked the Minister for Education if he will consider the desirability of paying pensions fortnightly to retired national teachers whose pensions are at present paid monthly.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Pensions.
It would not be possible to pay pensions fortnightly or twice monthly to ex-national school teachers without an amendment of the National Teachers' Superannuation Schemes, 1934 to 1943, since paragraph 21 of the 1934 scheme indicates that these pensions are paid on a quarterly basis but that an advance may be made in respect of each of the first two months of the quarter. No general representations in favour of a change in the method of payment have been made to me but, should there be any considerable number of persons desirous of receiving payment more frequently, I would be prepared to investigate the possibility of making the necessary arrangements, including the amendment of the schemes.
Is the Minister aware that there are over 300 retired teachers receiving less than £1 per week, that there are 700 receiving less than 30/- a week, and more than 1,400 getting less than £2 a week? In view of the very low standard of these pensions, would the Minister not consider it a matter which urgently requires attention and that, as there are a large number of lowly-paid people involved, many of whom are aged possibly, not of a type that could be organised easily to make representations, this is a question which he might consider in the interests of justice?
If the Deputy is referring to the matter of paying them fortnightly, I understand that, with regard to a similar class of Civil Service pensioners, it was found that only a small minority elected for fortnightly payments. I shall inquire further into the matter.