Teachers’ pay far from straightforward issue

Given that thousands of decent hardworking people in the private sector are suffering through no fault of their own, they have every right to be angry.

However, if turning their anger on the “public service”, they should realise it is a convenient collective term for lots of different sections.

True, many higher civil servants have been shown to have inordinate influence over Government ministers which they use for their benefit.

However, let me correct some impressions created by Daniel Crean (Letters, Apr 12). Teacher pensions are contributory based on 40 years contributions. Most teachers’ allowances are not extras but are paid for qualifications such as degrees. Instead of having basic pay, teachers were paid basic and allowance. Since national teachers, who are the majority, did not generally have degrees, they got no qualification allowances at all.

Brendan Casserly

Abbeybridge

Waterfall

near Cork