asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the hardships suffered by ex-national teachers in endeavouring to exist on the present scale of pension, without any emergency or other bonus, to compensate them for the steep rise in the cost of living; and, if so, and in view of the relative small number of cases involved if he will consider giving these teachers similar treatment, in the matter of bonus, to teachers on the active roll.

I regret I am not in a position to add anything to the reply given by the Minister for Finance on the 29th November last to questions put by Deputies regarding an increase to various classes of pensioners, including ex-national teachers.