§ SIR HERVEY BRUCEasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Whether the money sub- 1498 scribed by National Teachers in Ireland for the purpose of providing a pension for themselves on their retirement is wholly applied to that purpose; and, if not, whether he will state how much has been so applied in each year during the last ten years, what the balance has been in each year, and how it has been applied?
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANAll the contributions of the teachers are placed to the credit of the fund, and no payments whatever are made from it other than pensions and gratuities to retiring teachers, except the refund of their total premiums to those teachers who quit the service otherwise than by death or retirement on pension or gratuity. The scheme has only been in operation since January 1, 1880, and the annual disbursements have since been largely in excess of the teachers' subscriptions. For details I may refer the hon. Baronet to the accounts of the fund, which are annually presented to Parliament.