Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 548: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas who fail to resign their teaching post upon being elected continue to receive a teacher's salary; the amount that has been paid, over the past ten years, to Members who have not resigned their teaching post upon being elected; and the amount of savings that could be made in 2009 if those salaries were withdrawn. [37373/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The current arrangement when a teacher becomes a member of the Oireachtas is that a replacement teacher is employed, in a temporary capacity, in his/her school for the duration of the absence. Teaching salary is paid to the Oireachtas member for the duration of the arrangement but the total cost of the replacement teacher, including pension and PRSI contributions is deducted from the salary. The arrangement allows that the balance of salary, if any, remaining after the deductions have been made may be paid to the Oireachtas member. A number of Oireachtas members do not accept any balance of salary that may be payable.

The information requested by the Deputy on the amount paid over is available for 2004 to 2007 as follows:

2004 — €80,957

2005 — €62,063

2006 — €54,252

2007 — €48,092

As the payment arrangement takes specific account of individual replacement teacher details at a current date, it is not possible to provide this information for 2008 or 2009.