asked the Minister for Local Government if his Department can arrange that a vocational teacher in Tipperary (name supplied) who previously worked in Northern Ireland will benefit from superannuation payments made there over a period of three years, in order to encourage her to remain in the Republic.

The Local Government (Superannuation) Act, 1956 provides for the superannuation of officers of local authorities including vocational teachers. It sets out the kinds of service which can be reckoned for pension purposes but these do not include teaching service in Northern Ireland. The Act does not allow any discretion in this matter.