§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in his promised Bill to increase the pensions of Irish national teachers, provision will be made, for teachers who had to retire in recent years after long service and who are now living in a state of poverty owing to the inadequacy of the pensions awarded to them under the present system's?
§ Mr. MASTERMANI cannot at present give information as to the details of any scheme that it may be found possible to frame.
§ Mr. CRUMLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that Andrew Anderson, ex-teacher of Kinawley male national school, county Fermanagh, was, owing to severe mental depression, forced to retire on 31st December, 1901, after a service of thirty-three years, of which twenty-nine years seven months counted for pension purposes under the Act of 1879; that the pension awarded to him on retirement was £7 per year, which, owing to his prolonged illness, he was obliged to commute for £100, and that he is now in a state of poverty; and whether the provisions of the contemplated Irish Teachers' Pensions Amendment Bill will be made retrospective so as to afford relief in cases such as this?
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§ Mr. MASTERMANInquiry has been made into the facts, and it has been ascertained that the total sum paid to this teacher was £146. I fear I am not at present in a position to make any statement as to the last paragraph of the question.