§ MR. FLAVINI beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on what grounds assistant national school teachers in Ireland are compelled to pay the increased premiums towards the pension fund, although they 1495 receive no portion of the arrears fee grant; and whether class salaries will be given to the assistant teachers, in order to enable them to meet the increased premiums which they are compelled to pay.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (MR. G. W. BALFOUR,) Leeds CentralThe increased premiums now paid by assistant teachers, as well as by principals, have been fixed by the National Teachers' Superannuation Department under rules operative from 1st January, 1898. It is not intended to pay assistant teachers the salaries attaching to their class in order to enable them to meet the higher pension premiums.