asked the Minister for Education how often the computer in his Department went out of order since it was installed; why payment of allowances has been in arrear on many occasions in the last two years; and if steps will now be taken to put matters right.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Department of Education Computer.
22.
My Department shares computer facilities with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners.
Recently an issue of salary to about 200 teachers was delayed for a couple of days due to a technical hitch in the supply of information to the computer. There have been such a number of changes in the rates of salary and allowances for teachers in the past two years, many of them with retrospective effect, that on occasions there was regrettable and unavoidable delay in the payment of arrears. All possible steps are being taken to eliminate delays.
Is the Minister aware that for the last 18 months to two years allowances invariably have been paid weeks and months after the due date, that these delays have occurred even where there were not retrospective payments, even where there were not recalculations? Would the Minister now use his good offices to ensure that either the computer is kept in good order and that all payments are made promptly, or else that they revert to the old system to ensure that allowances are paid promptly and thereby avoid the situation in which many teachers are now obliged to borrow money in order to make ends meet?
And put more money in.
I am not aware that the situation is as Deputy Ryan says. There has been, I agree, on a few occasions a problem in relation to having these allowances sent out on time but anybody who recognises the fact that there have been a very considerable number of changes in salaries and allowances over the past two years will appreciate that these changes create a certain difficulty for the staff in the Department of Education. We are endeavouring to ensure that the allowances and salaries are sent out on the due date.
Two months overdue. Disgraceful.