HC Deb 20 March 1877 vol 233 cc201-2
MR. MELDON

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland, If it is the intention of the Government, during the present Session, to introduce any measure or make any provision for improving the condition of the National Teachers of Ireland, and for securing to them adequate and certain salaries and remuneration; and, if the Government intend, to propose or sanction any scheme whereby pensions will be secured to the Irish National School Teachers when they no longer can discharge their duties from sickness or old age?

SIR MICHAEL HICKS - BEACH

When the hon. Member brought this subject before the House last Session I undertook to deal with the position of the teachers of schools in non-contributory Unions who, under the arrangement then existing, could not obtain the contingent results' fees. Accordingly, in moving the Education Estimates for the year 1876–7, I stated that, to meet the case of these teachers, the Government would be prepared for that year to grant contingent results' fees, in return for bonâ fide local contributions to a school, as well as in return for the amount that might have been, but was not voted by the Guardians. I do not yet know how far this change, which was, I think, accepted by the teachers as a considerable boon, has worked satisfactorily. When I am made acquainted with its results, it will be necessary for the Government to decide whether the plan should be continued, or whether the same object should be sought to be attained in some other way. With regard to any scheme of pensions, I stated last year that the only way in which it seemed to me at all possible to deal with this was by a system of grants depending on the purchase of Deferred Annuities to a certain amount by the teachers themselves. I do not think, however, that my suggestions on this point entirely commended themselves to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and as the teachers themselves seemed unwilling to accept them, and suggested proposals to which it appeared quite impossible to accede, I do not expect to be able to deal with the subject.