asked the Minister for Education whether he is aware that since the abolition of the rating system for national teachers in April last, no payment of arrears has been made to those teachers who were upgraded as a result of this decision; and whether, in view of the fact that the increase in pay in 70 per cent. of the cases concerned involves the payment of upwards of £10 to each of the persons concerned, he will ensure that these arrears are paid without further delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Payment of Arrears to Primary Teachers.
The Deputy appears to be completely misinformed. The position is in no respect as represented by him. The regulations issued, following on the discontinuance of the award of the "highly efficient" rating for national teachers, indicated that, from the 1st April, 1949, all teachers who were giving "efficient" service on that date would proceed by annual increments to the appropriate maximum salary prescribed under the then existing scales for teachers rated "highly efficient". Teachers, who on the 31st March, 1949, were in receipt of a salary less than the maximum salary then prescribed for those rated "efficient" would, subject to the usual conditions, receive an increment on the revised scales on their next incremental date. Teachers, who on the 31st March, 1949, were for at least one year in receipt of the maximum salary then prescribed for those rated "efficient", received, subject to the usual conditions, an increment on the revised scales as from the 1st April, 1948.
In no case, therefore, did the immediate increased salary benefit exceed the amount of an increment on the appropriate scale. Payment at the increased rate of salary and, following on the abolition of the "highly efficient" rating, payment of principal's allowance at the higher allowance in the case of those not rated "highly efficient" has already been made to the teachers concerned.