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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 14 May 1969

Vol. 240 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teachers' Pension Scheme.

38.

andMr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that national teachers over the age of 65 years who are on extended service at the request of his Department and who retired before 30th June, 1967, are not eligible for the revised pension scheme; and if he will take steps to ensure that these deserving teachers will be included in the scheme.

Every teacher's pension is determined by reference to scales of salary in operation at the time he retired from pensionable service. A teacher who is retained in the service beyond the end of the school-year in which he reaches the age of 65 years is so retained in a non-pensionable capacity.

Would the Minister not agree that the few people involved here have a genuine grievance, and would he take a personal interest in their case?

There are financial implications going back too far, but we have made a concession in regard to teachers reaching the age of 65 years in the school year ended 30th June, 1968. They are to be granted a new salary scale with effect from 30th June, 1968, and they will receive the benefit of the new scales in the calculations for the current year. To make it retrospective would have financial implications.

Would the Minister not agree that the number of people involved between 1967 and 1968 would be infinitesimal and will he consider the case made by Deputy Kenny and myself?

I appreciate the point of the question, but it must be appreciated also that the teachers involved were, in practically all instances, people who made application themselves for an extension in the knowledge that the extended service would be non-pensionable. In many cases it is a concession to a teacher to be able to remain on in salaried occupation beyond the retirement age.

The Minister must be aware that some of these teachers are on extended service at the request of the Department because of a dearth and a scarcity of teachers at that time.

In some cases that is so, but in most cases it is not so. It was at the request of the teachers concerned.

Will the Minister have another look at it?

I will, but there are financial implications.

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