I take it the Deputy is referring to the increases which arise under the restructuring pay deals made under the Programme for Competitiveness and Work.
The position is that the final element of the restructuring pay deals, that concerning in-school management, has only recently been agreed. Arrangements are now being made to pay the arrears of pension and retirement gratuity to eligible pensioners. It is anticipated that this work will be completed before September 1998.
Many teachers have already received an increase in their pensions. These are teachers who retired before the commencement date — 1 July 1994 — of the restructuring pay deals. The Government has decided that such teachers should benefit from those pay deals on a parity basis, subject to a minimum increase of 2 per cent in their pensions.