asked the Minister for Education if it is correct that untrained national teachers appointed since 1921 have a maximum salary of only £272 per annum while untrained teachers appointed before 1921 are entitled to a maximum salary of £400 per annum; and, if so, if he will take early action to end this discrimination.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Untrained Teachers' Salaries.
The salary scales since 1st January, 1950, for untrained principal and assistant teachers appointed to national schools on or after the 1st January, 1921, are:—
Women and single men, £200-£300 per annum; married men, £250-£425 per annum.
The salary scales since 1st January, 1950, for such teachers appointed between April, 1905, and December, 1920, inclusive, are:—
Women and single men, £250-£400 per annum; married men, £300-£525 per annum.
Untrained junior assistant mistresses, irrespective of the date of appointment, receive since 1st January, 1950, the salary scale for other untrained teachers appointed since 1920, viz., £200-£300 per annum.
I regret that it would not be possible for me to recommend the removal of the salary scale distinction between the two groups of untrained teachers.
Would the Minister say why he would not recommend the removal of that discrimination?
Because there is an historical basis to it and you could not change the scale with regard to one group of these teachers without changing it with regard to two other groups at least.