HC Deb 21 June 1897 vol 50 cc430-1
DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)

I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether it is the intention to demand a still further deduction from the salaries of the Irish National School Teachers for the purpose of insuring the solvency of the Pension Fund; whether the enforcement in this direction is in accordance with the contract entered into with the teachers when joining the scheme; whether any such. deficiency was or was not made duly public in due time; and, if the amount in question can be made good from Imperial sources?

The HON. MEMBER

also asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland if the amount due under the Arrears Act, amounting, as recently given, to £100,000, will either be entirely or only partially granted to the Irish National Teachers?

THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds, Central

It is the intention to require from the Irish National School teachers an increase of their subscriptions to the Pension Fund. The subscription as thus increased will not exceed the amount which the teachers ought to have been required to pay from the beginning. There is no intention to make teachers who now subscribe to the fund pay for the pensions of future subscribers. The arrangement proposed is in my opinion a fair one, and I am not aware of any contract entered into with the teachers when joining the scheme inconsistent with it.

CAPTAIN DONELAN (Cork, E.)

May I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman has received any resolution from the National Teachers' Association of Ireland on the subject.

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

Yes, Sir; I have received such a resolution, but it appears to me to be based upon a misconception.