asked the Minister for Education if a female teacher whose income is supporting a dependent student husband will be placed on the married teacher scale.

Salary scales for teachers are determined in accordance with the provisions of the teachers' conciliation and arbitration scheme and are of general application. It is not open to me to vary the conditions for payment in relation to their application to the case of an individual teacher.

In view of the fact that there is a heavy campaign on and a commitment by the Government for equal pay would the Minister not consider changing this or setting the machinery in motion to change it through the proper channel?

As I said in my reply it is not open to me to vary the conditions of payment. This is a matter for the teachers' conciliation and arbitration scheme.

Is the Minister making the point that he ever offered an increase in salary which was refused?

I have replied to the question.