§ Mr. GINNELLasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether there is, on the list of teachers pensioned off under the Irish Board of National Education, one who, after twenty-nine years' service as teacher, is now in receipt of an annual pension of £3 17s. 6d.; whether he will explain the rule or scale under which this pension of 2½d. per day was fixed; whether that is the minimum pension for an Irish teacher; what the minimum pension is for an English teacher; how many English and Irish teachers, respectively, are now in receipt of pensions of less than £13 a year; and when, and according to what scale, are Irish teachers' pensions to be increased?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am informed that there is no pension of this amount on the books of the Irish Teachers' Pension Office, and therefore the second and third questions do not arise. The minimum disablement allowance under Section 2 of the Elementary School Teachers' (Superannuation) Act, 1898, is after ten years' service £20 a year in the case of a male English teacher, and £15 a year in the case of a female English teacher. There are 104 Irish teachers receiving pensions of less than £13 a year. A revision of the scale of Irish teachers' pensions is now under consideration, and provision has been made for the purpose in the Estimates for the current financial year.
§ Mr. GINNELLWould the hon. Gentleman say what is the minimum pension that any Irish teacher receives? It is asked in the question.
§ Mr. MASTERMANI am afraid that I cannot add anything to what I have said. Perhaps the hon. Member will put down a question.
§ Mr. GINNELLIt is on the Paper—what is the minimum pension to an Irish teacher?