Vol. 457 No. 8
116 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education if she will give a breakdown of the actuarial cost of the teachers' unions' claim for early retirement which is stated to be as high as £30 million per year; his views on the accuracy of these figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16372/95]
117 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Education the offer, if any, that has been made to the teacher unions to deal with early retirement in view of teacher stress; the calculations that were considered when the offer was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16374/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. Negotiations with the teacher unions on their claim for early retirement and other claims are taking place within the parameters of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work agreement on pay and conditions of employment. Discussions on the claims resumed in September on the basis outlined in the joint Government-ICTU statement issued on 13 July last. It was specified in that statement that “Both sides agreed that all issues involved had to be satisfactorily resolved before any particular element was implemented and that that satisfactory resolution had to take place within the relevant parameters of the Programme for Competitiveness and Work”.
Accordingly, I do not propose to comment on these discussions other than to say that progress is being made. Until final agreement is reached it would not be appropriate for me to make further comment.
