asked the Minister for Finance whether he is aware that established officers of a vocational committee who, prior to their appointment, have, during a period of not less than five years, devoted the whole of their time under the direction of Conradh na Gaeilge to the teaching of the Irish language or the organisation of such teaching, have had such period recognised for pension purposes, and that established officers in the Civil Service who served in a similar capacity have not had their claims recognised in this respect; and, if so, whether, in view of the small number of officers involved and the nation's indebtedness to them for valuable service rendered under most difficult conditions, he will consider having this anomaly removed at the earliest possible date.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vocational Officers and Teaching of Irish.
Under the Superannuation Acts, pensions may be granted to civil servants only in respect of service which has been remunerated from the Central Fund or out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas. This is a fundamental provision of the Acts and its removal to enable teachers of Irish under Conradh na Gaeilge to reckon their teaching service for Civil Service pension in like manner as they may do so for pension from vocational education committees would involve an extension of the scope of the Acts for which, in my view, there would not be adequate justification.