Minister declines to comment on teachers paid while in political office

MINISTER for Education Noel Dempsey yesterday declined to give his opinion on a controversial scheme that, since 1998, has paid almost €500 million to TDs and senators on leave of absence from teaching.

Mr Dempsey, a former teacher, has himself benefited from the scheme during the 16 years he has been on leave of absence from his job as a guidance counsellor.

Records obtained by the Irish Examiner under the Freedom of Information Act showed that in the period between April, 1998, and 2000, he received €20,000 from the Department of Education, in addition to his ministerial salary.

A spokesman for Mr Dempsey said yesterday the minister was aware of the scheme and would be reviewing it in the context of the new severance arrangement for TDs.

The salary scheme was introduced in the early 1970s as an incentive for teachers to stand for the Oireachtas. Those elected to the Dáil and Seanad would be able to retain their former posts and benefit from the difference between their salaries and pensions and that of a replacement temporary teacher.

The Department of Education said that it was too early to speculate as to what view the minister may take in relation to the future of the scheme.

“The minister is considering it in the light of the conditions of TDs’ and Senators’ severance arrangement,” said the spokesman. “He will respond in due course.”

As revealed in the Irish Examiner yesterday, some 20 TDs and senators have benefited from the scheme in the past five years. The highest paid has been Galway Fine Gael Senator Ulick Burke who has received €68,000 in the past five years (but that sum included a full-time salary for three months plus €14,000 paid in error).

Over €20,000 has been paid to 10 members of the Oireachtas in the past five years, on top of their parliamentary salaries, which currently stand at over €70,000 for a TD and €52,000 for a senator.