asked the Minister for Education if she has reexamined the case for equal pay with university graduates made by specialist teachers who are non-university graduates; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Teachers' Pay.
575.
The matter raised by the Deputy relates to the question of the payment of allowances for academic qualifications to teachers who do not hold university degrees.
This question was referred to the Arbitration Board for Teachers on two occasions and on each occasion the matter was found by the board to be nonarbitrable under the scheme of counciliation and arbitration for teachers. It was also submitted to the review body on teachers' pay in 1980 and was taken into account by that body in the context of its general recommendations on salary and allowances.
Following a request made to me by the teachers unions to have action initiated with a view to a resolution of the problem, I gave detailed consideration to the matter. In particular, I examined the question in the light of the Government's National Plan Building on Reality, 1985-1987.
I have not found it possible, however, in present circumstances, to initiate action which would involve extra expenditure on pay, as would be necessary to resolve the problem to the satisfaction of the unions.