Issue No. 23 Winter 2017

The journal of the Retired Teachers’ Association of Ireland

Pension UpdateGood news

on parity

Branch Secretaries meetAbove: le to right – Brian Mangan NEC, Marie DennehyCork Branch, Fachtna Hamilton Iarchorcaí BranchLe: Peggy Garvey, Athlone Branch.

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3Winter 2017

Dear Colleagues, Welcome to the Autumn/Winter edition of Comhnasc.

On behalf of the NEC, I would like to extend a particu-larly warm welcome to the many new members who havejoined our ranks in recent weeks. Aer a lifetime of dedi-cated service to your pupils and communities we hoperetirement will bring you health and happiness. Yourmembership of our network is greatly valued and we hopethat your participation in the Association will be of equalbenefit to you over the years to come.

There have been significant developments – many ofthem inter-linked – on the pay and pensions front overthe summer months. The Commission on Public SectorPay issued its first report; a new public sector pay deal hasbeen negotiated and agreed between the unions andGovernment; and the Alliance of Retired Public Servantshas continued its advocacy on behalf of retired publicsector employees.

The most significant development from ourAssociation’s perspective is that the pay increases to serv-ing teachers under the new pay deal will be applied toretired teachers. We have however, two distinct cohorts ofpensioners in the public service which are differentiatedby date of retirement: those who retired before 1 March2012 and those who retired on lower pensions since 1March 2012. The increases will apply to the most recentretirees in the first instance to bring their pensions in line

with those of pre-March 2012 retirees. Once alignment isachieved any subsequent increase will apply to all retirees.

While some of the detail of implementation might bedifficult to comprehend there is a simple principleinvolved: the pension/pay link between the retired teacherand the serving teacher is preserved. Pension paritysurvives – at least for the duration of this agreement!

Most members will see a welcome increase in takehome pay next January as the 3rd phase of pensionrestoration commences. There will also be a furthermodest reduction in Universal Social Charge (USC) in 2018.

At present our Association has no legal structure orstatus. At next year’s Annual Convention a motion will beput to delegates to address this deficit, by incorporatingthe RTAI as a Company Limited by Guarantee (CLG). ThisComhnasc carries an article written by our legal advisor MrJoseph O’Malley, Hayes Solicitors, outlining why this step isnecessary and prudent at this stagein the development of the RTAI.

All these developments areoutlined further in this issue and onour website at www.rtaireland.ie

With best wishes,

Editorial comment

Breakthrough on pension parityNew pay agreement

Comhnasc General Editor:Billy Sheehan.

Advertising: Siobhán Desmond.

Design: David Cooke

Photographs: Tommy Clancy

Printing: Mullen Print.

Correspondence to:The Editor, Comhnasc, R.T.A.I.,Vere Foster House,35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1,DO1 ET35.

Telephone: 01–2454130.Fax: 01–8749117.Email:Office: info@rtaireland.ieComhnasc: editor@rtaireland.ie

Website: www.rtaireland.ieOffice Hours: 9.00am – 4.30pmMonday – Friday

Comhnasc is published by theRetired Teachers’ Association ofIreland and distributed tomembers and interested parties.Comhnasc is the most widelycirculated magazine for RetiredTeachers in Ireland.

The views expressed in thisjournal are those of the individualauthors and are not necessarilyendorsed by the R.T.A.I. Whileevery care has been taken toensure that the informationcontained in this publication isup to date and correct, no

responsibility will be taken by theR.T.A.I. for any error which mightoccur.

Except where the RetiredTeachers’ Association of Irelandhas formally negotiatedagreements as part of its servicesto members, inclusion of anadvertisement does not imply anyform of recommendation. Whileevery effort is made to ensure thereliability of advertisers, theR.T.A.I. cannot accept liabilityfor the quality of goods andservices offered.

4 RTAI Comhnasc

RTAI notes

The report of the Public Service PayCommission was published last May.The commission, chaired by formerLabour Court Chairman Mr. KevinDuffy, was established to comparepay rates in the public and privatesectors. The report’s findingsprovided a context for the subse-quent negotiations on the successorto the Lansdowne Road Agreement.

While this report does not directlyimpact on public service retirees itmakes a number of recommenda-tions in relation to future pensionpolicy. The report notes that:• pensions for those who entered

public sector employment since

2013 (on the new Standard SingleScheme) are currently on a parwith private sector defined contri-bution pension schemes;

• there are an estimated 50,000public servants in the new SingleScheme;

• for those who commencedemployment prior to 2013,pensions are worth between 12%to 18% more than comparableprivate sector pension schemes;

• there are an estimated 243,000employees in these ‘legacyschemes’ which are now closed tonew entrants.

• the higher value of the pre -2013

arrangement should be addressedthrough an increased employeecontribution; and

• it would be reasonable to apply anincreased pension contribution inconjunction with the phasing outof Pension Related Deduction(PRD).

In summary, the Commission is of theopinion that public sector workers,employed prior to 2013 shouldcontribute more to their pensions. Noincrease is recommended for morerecent recruits as the new pensionscheme is on less favourable terms.

The full report can be accessed atwww.paycomission.gov.ie

Report of Public Service Pay Commission

Third phase of pensionrestorationExemption threshold raisedThe third phase of pension restoration tocommence from January next will see upto a further €780 per annum restored tothose retirees who suffered the full impactof the Public Service Pension Reduction(PSPR). This means a reduction in PSPR ofup to €30 per fortnight. [see note]

The amount deducted from pension isnot the same for every retiree. Two factorsdetermine which rate applies: the date ofretirement and the value of the pension.

In the case of teachers who have retiredsince 1 March 2012, PSPR will no longerarise from January next as it will only beapplied to pensions of over €60K.

In the case of teachers who retired priorto 1 March 2012 there are two scenarios.From January next pensions up to €34,132will be exempt. However annual pensionsover that amount will still be subject to adeduction for PSPR, though on a reducedportion of the pension.

The current rates of PSPR and therevised rates from 1 January 2018 are setout in the attached table.

The raising of the exempt thresholdsmeans that from January next 80% ofretired public servants will no longer besubject to PSPR. The RTAI is committed topursuing the full abolition of PSPR, asreported elsewhere in this Comhnasc.

This 3rd phase of restoration brings themaximum annual restoration to €1,680 as€400 was restored in 2016, a further €500in 2017 as well as the €780 to be restoredin the course of 2018.

Note: Some teachers on lower pensionsmay not have been subject to the fullimpact of the pension reduction. Wherethat occurs the amount restored will becapped at what was lost.The rates of PSPR that apply are shown intables on right:

Retired prior to 1 March 2012Pension up to €34,132 per annum1 Jan 2017 Up to 26K Exempt 26K to €34,132 9%1 Jan 2018 Up to €34,132 ExemptPension over €34,132 per annum1 Jan 2017 Up to 22K Exempt 22K to 24K 3% 24k to 60K 12% *1 Jan 2018 Up to 30K Exempt 30K to 60K 12% *[*Higher rates apply to pensions over €60k(17%) and for pensions over €100k (28%)but these are not shown]

Retired from 1 March 2012Pension up to €32,500 per annumThere is no deduction for PSPR onpensions of up to €32,500 for teacherswho retired from 1 March 2012 onwards.Pension over €32,500 per annum1 Jan 2017 Up to 39K Exempt 39K to 60K 2% *1 Jan 2018 Up to €60K Exempt *[*Higher rates apply to pensions over €60k(5%) and for pensions over €100k (8%) butthese are not shown]

5Winter 2017

A new public sector pay deal tosucceed the Lansdowne RoadAgreement (LRA) was negotiated overthe summer. The Public Sector StabilityAgreement (PSSA) will run for a 3 yearperiod from 1 Jan 2018 to 31 Dec 2020.

While a ballot of INTO membersemphatically rejected the terms ofthe PSSA, the agreement has beenadopted by ICTU, as 80% of itsconstituent membership favouredacceptance.

The agreement provides forphased salary increases during the 3year life-time of the deal. (See Table 1)

The agreement contains a significantbreakthrough for public sector retireesas it provides confirmation that for theduration of the agreement, the linkbetween pay increase and pensionincreases will be maintained. However,this will not bring an immediateincrease in pension to all RTAI members.

The initial benefit will accrue tothose teachers who have retired since1 March 2012. These teachers, likeother public sector workers, retiredon lower pensions as they retired on asalary scale that was subject to asignificant pay-cut in Jan 2010. This

salary scale is now set to increase andpensions that are based on this scalewill rise also. (The €1,000 pay increasefor serving staff paid on 1 April 2017will also be applied pro-rata to thepost March 2012 retirees.)

Teachers who retired before 1 March2012 have pension linked to the previ-ous scale which remains higher thanthe current scale for serving teachers.Accordingly, no immediate benefit willarise for the pre-March 2012 retirees.

As the pensions of the post March2012 retirees increase progressively, apoint will come when alignment isachieved between the pensions ofthe pre-March and post-March 2012retirees. Once alignment is achievedfurther increases will apply to allpensions in payment irrespective ofthe date of retirement.

Alignment of pensions linked tosalaries of up to €70,000 will besecured during the term of the newagreement. However, it will take afurther follow on agreement beforefull alignment is achieved. (i.e. annualpensions over €35,000 gross will notincrease prior to 2020. (See exampleTable 2)

An extract from the PSSA whichdeals with pensions is printed in thepanel below.

The RTAI has long campaigned onpension parity and greatly welcomesthe retention of the link betweenpension increases and pay increases.

Public servants to pay more for pensionsThe Pension Related Deduction (PRD)which applies to serving staff since2009, is not going to be abolishedfully. In line with the recommendationof the Public Sector Pay Commission,the pension levy is to be convertedinto a permanent AdditionalSuperannuation Contribution (ASC).

For teachers appointed prior 2013,the ASC will be slightly lower than thecurrent pension levy. The percentagecontribution is linked to earnings andwill range between 1% and 6% ofearnings. (approx)

For teachers appointed since 2013(on less favourable pension terms)the rate of the ASC will be significantlyless than they currently pay throughpension levy. This is another stepforward in the campaign for equityfor more recent public sector recruits.

New public sector pay deal 2018 – 2020Good news on parity!

Table 1: PSSA -Salary Increases1 Jan 2018 1%1 Oct 2018 1%1 Jan 2019 1% (salaries up to €30k only)1 Sept 2019 1.75%1 Jan 2020 0.5% (salaries up to €32k only)1 Oct 2020 2%

“Future policy on public service pensions inpayment for the duration of the Agreementwill be guided by:• The need to adopt an equitable approach

to the various public service pensionercohorts who are not only differentiate byamount of pension in payment (deter-mined by grade and service) as heretofore,

but also by date of retirement in particularpre and post end-February 2012).

• Accordingly, for those who retired or willretire post end-February 2012, to theextent that they retired on reduced salaries,they will receive pension increases in linewith pay increases received by their peerscurrently in employment in accordance

with the terms of the collective agreement. • When alignment is achieved between pre

and post end-February 2012 pensioners, aswill happen progressively for salary payranges up to €70,000 in 2020 under theproposed collective agreement, payincreases will continue to benefit pension inpayment for the duration of the Agreement.”

Table 2: EXAMPLE of alignment of salary scalesSalary SalaryPre from1/3//’12 1/3/’12 1/4/’17 1/1/’18 1/10/’18 1//9/’19 1/10/’20 €1K 1% 1% 1.75% 2%Salary: 65k 60,875 61,875 62,494 63,119 64,224 65,508Pension: 32,500 30,438 30,938 31,247 31,559 32,112 32,754

Public Service Stability Agreement 2018 – 2020 – Public Service Pensions in Payment (Par 6.2)

6 RTAI Comhnasc

RTAI notes

Lobby of Oireachtas membersThe RTAI in conjunction with ourcolleagues in the Alliance of RetiredPublic Servants continue to pursueour dual objectives: the completeabolition of the Public ServicePension Reduction (PSPR) and theretention of parity link betweensalaries and pensions.

In the lead up to the public sectorpay negotiations, the Alliance organ-ised a lobby of Oireachtas membersto ensure that the issues of concernto retired workers were understoodand addressed. The Alliance engagedthe services of MontagueCommunications to assist with thelobby and to manage press enquiries.

RTAI members played a leading rolein this lobby and the NEC would like toacknowledge the contribution ofthose members who met politiciansat local clinics or in Leinster House and

those who engaged with their publicrepresentatives via letter and email.

Meeting with Minister DonohueThe lobby culminated with a meetingbetween the officers of the Allianceand Mr. Paschal Donohoe TD, Ministerfor Finance and Public Expenditure &Reform and his team on 12 July 2017.Subsequent to this meeting the Alliancereceived a formal written response on18 August which essentially reiteratedwhat had previously been announcedin relation to the reversal of thepension reduction, namely• that PSPR is being reduced in 3

stages, with the third phase tocommence on 1 Jan 2018;

• that from 1 Jan 2018 pensions upto €34,132 will no longer incurliability for PSPR

• that at that point 80% of publicservice pensions will no longer be

subject to PSPR;• that the cost of raising the exemp-

tion threshold in 2018 will be€30million.

One of the core objectives of thelobby was to secure a commitmentand a time-frame for the removal ofthe remaining 20% of retired publicservants from PSPR. The responsereceived by the Alliance confirms that“it is the Government’s stated posi-tion to unwind the measures underthe FEMPI Acts as soon as possible,with particular regard to the impacton public service pensioners”.

While this commitment iswelcome, it remains an aspirationuntil a time-frame for the completeabolition of the pension reduction isannounced.

The response to our demands forpension parity is more positive and isoutlined on page 5.

RTAI /Alliance campaign

There is a lot of confusion amongmembers as regarding eligibility forthe social welfare State Pension,previously know as the Old AgePension. This confusion is under-standable as some retired publicservants (including teachers) qualifywhile others don’t.

Eligibility is determined by the PRSIcontributions an employee makesduring his/her working life. There areseveral different PRSI Classes (rates ofpayment) and different social welfarebenefits attach to each Class.

Historically, public servants paidthe lower Class D rate of contribution.These contributions do not cover anentitlement to the State Pension.Retired teachers in this category(currently the vast majority) havetheir pension paid in full by the DES.

A major change was introduced on6 April 1995 when public servantsrecruited from that date onwardswere moved to the higher Class A rateof PRSI. Class A contributions coverentitlement to the State Pension. Inthe future when these employeesreach retirement age they will receivea pension from two sources: a loweroccupational pension from the DESand the social Welfare State Pensionwhich is currently paid from age 66.

Significantly, the changes intro-duced for new recruits on 6 April1995 (outlined above) also apply topublic servants who re enter service,following a break in-service aer thatdate. (Note: approved leave ofabsence, either paid or unpaid doesnot constitute a break in-service.)

The majority of retired teachers

who have an entitlement to the StatePension (or a pro-rata amount) fall into the category of re-entrant i.e. theycommenced teaching prior to 6 April1995, retired from teaching andreturned at some point aer thatdate and thereby saw their PRSIstatus change.

In summary therefore, eligibility forthe State Pension is determined by thetype or Class of PRSI contributions paidwhile in employment. And for someteachers their PRSI contribution Classchanged due to a break in service.

If you have any doubt about youreligibility seek advice from your localsocial welfare office.

Note: Some members haveworked both in the public service andin the private sector. This summarydoes not address that situation.

Am I eligible for the State Pension?–“It depends!”

7Winter 2017

One of the key activities in RTAIHead Office is the provision ofadvice and information to individ-ual members in a timely, reliableand confidential manner.

While previously the majority ofmembers’ queries were by tele-phone there is now a rising volumevia email. Our members are alsofinding the RTAI website an increas-ingly valuable source ofinformation.

In response to these changes and

to ensure a moreefficient service tomembers we areputting a system inplace to bettermanage the workflowin the office.

We intend to prioritiseresponding to telephone querieseach morning. We are thereforeencouraging members with tele-phone queries to ring the officebetween 9.00 a.m. and 1.00 p.m.

daily. This will assistus greatly in ensur-ing that calls areresponded to on

the day they arereceived.While the RTAI office

will be open until 4.30 pmeach day, the focus in the aer-noons will be on other activitiesincluding the development of thewebsite and expanding benefits andservices for members.

Contacting RTAI by telephone

Please ring us early!

Each year the DES includes an RTAImembership card in the information packsent to teachers on retirement. This yearsome packs inadvertently did not includeour membership application form.

The NEC would like every retiree toknow about our Association and have theopportunity to join. We would welcomeyour help in recruiting new members and if

you know of a friend or former colleaguewho retired this year you might encourageher/him to join.

Teachers who are retired for some yearsbut who never considered joining RTAI wouldalso be very welcome as new members.

Application forms are available fromHead Office or can be downloaded fromwww.rtaireland.ie

Ask a friend to join RTAI!

RTAIAnnual

Convention2018

The Annual Convention ofthe RTAI will take place on

Tuesday 6 March 2018,in the Gresham Hotel,

O’Connell Street, Dublin1.

Motions from branchesmust be received in Head

Office by 31 December2017.

RetrospectiveVettingThe requirement to undergo Gardavetting has been part of the registra-tion process for newly qualifiedteachers since 2007. The require-ment was subsequently extended toteachers who were moving schoolsfrom 2011.

Since the start of this year theTeaching Council has facilitated thevetting of teachers who had notpreviously been vetted. This processis now nearing completion as theCouncil has recently sent out noticesto the remaining 16,000 teacherswho are required to be vetted as partof the Retrospective Vetting process.

If the vetting request is notcomplied with a teacher’s annualrenewal of registration cannotproceed. Teachers not registered withthe Council will not be paid by the DES.

When this process is concludedthe Teaching Council Registercontaining 97,000 teachers willconsist of 100% vetted teachers.

Further information: DES Circular16/2017 or www.teachingcouncil.ie

RevisedSubstitute Ratesfrom 1/9/20171st Daily HourlyAppointed Casual Rate Rate + holiday pay + holiday pay

Before €184.63 €36.931/2/’12 + €22.82 +€4.56 = €207.45 =€41.49From €163.66 €32.731/2/’12 + €20.23 +€4.05 =€183.89 = €36.78

For an explanation of the different rates seeDES Circular 53/2017

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9Winter 2017

A further reduction in the Universal Social Charge (USC)formed part of the budget 2018 announcement, whichwas made on 10 October last. Though the cost of thismeasure amounts to €177 million per annum the reduc-tion for an individual is minimal. The revised rates andsome examples are printed below.

USC Rates

2016 2017 2018First €12,012 1% First €12,012 0.5% First €12,012 0.5%Next €6,656 3% Next €6,760 2.5% Next €7,360 2%Next €51,376 5.5% Next €51,272 5% Next €50,672 4.75%Balance 8% Balance 8% Balance 8%

Incomes of €13,000 or less are exempt. Once income isover this limit the relevant rate of USC is applied on allincome.

Medical Card holders and individuals aged 70 and over

whose aggregate income does not exceed €60,000 willpay a maximum USC rate of 2% in 2018.

Other budget measures• the standard rate income tax band is increasing by

€750, for a single person this is an increase in bandwidth from €33,800 to €34,550 (worth €150 perannum);

• weekly social welfare payments, including the StatePension & the Widow’s, Widower’s, & Surviving CivilPartner’s Pension will increase by €5 per week;

• The monthly threshold for the Drugs Payment Schemehas been reduced by €10 from €144 to €134 from Jan2018;

• an additional 1,280 teachers (primary & post-primary)will be appointed from next Sept; and

• an additional 1,091 special needs assistants will also berecruited.

RTAI notes

Budget 2018

Examples of USC deductions in 2018

Pension: €20k €25k €30k €35k €40kFirst €12,012 60.06 60.06 60.06 60.06 60.06Next €7,360 147.20 147.20 147.20 147.20 147.20Next €51,272 29.83 267.33 504.83 742.33 979.83 237.09 474.59 712.09 949.59 1,187.09Reduction in ‘18 53.37 65.87 78.37 90.87 103.37

INTO general secretary Ms. Sheila Nunan has beenelected president of the Irish Congress of TradeUnions and will serve a two year term concluding inJuly of 2019.

Following her election she set out intergenera-tional solidarity and international solidarity as twokey themes for her work during her term of office.

Ms. Nunan who is INTO general secretary, since2009 is the sixth INTO leader to take up the posi-tion of ICTU President. As Vice-Chairperson of thePublic Services Committee of Congress, she hasplayed a central role in all public sector pay negoti-ations in recent years.

Ms. Sheila Nunan, ICTU President 2017 –2019

INTO General Secretaryelected as President of ICTU

EmployerRegistrationNumberIf you are asked by the RevenueCommissioners, for example inrelation to local property tax, toprovide your Employer’sRegistered Number (or thenumber of your ‘pensionprovider’), the number is asfollows: 4001495U.

This number also appears onyour pension slip.

10 RTAI Comhnasc

Founded in 1868 while Ireland wasstill a colony and in the shadow of thefamine years, the INTO is among thecountry’s longest-established unionsand by far the oldest and largestteachers’ union.

A range of events and commemo-rations to mark the occasion are atthe planning stage and will be

launched later this year by the INTO. Acentre piece of the commemorationwill be the launch of a history of the

INTO, written by historian and authorMs. Niamh Puirseil. It will tell the storyof the struggle for teachers’ rightsalong with key contests involvingpowerful interest groups in Churchand State.

The RTAI will also contribute to the2018 commemorative programme atlocal and national events.

The development of the RTAI websiteis an ongoing project and we arepleased with the positive feedbackwe are receiving from members. TheNEC is committed to continuing thisdevelopment until we have a firstclass resource and reference point onthose issues that impact on ourmembers.

We are also keen to develop thesite to support the social activity of

our Association at branch level. Thetool bar on the homepage has a‘Branches’ tab.

The homepage also has a ‘Viewour Branches’ tab. If you click oneither of these buttons a full listing ofall 32 branches is opened; Select yourown branch to find details of meet-ings or activities in your area.

To access the website go to:www.rtaireland.ie

INTO to celebrate 150 years (1868 – 2018)

RTAI website

RTAI notes

RTAISolidarityFundThe biannual meeting of the RTAISolidarity Fund will take place inmid-December to consider appli-cations for support from thefund. The purpose of the fundestablished in 2016 is to “assistcharitable causes, projects andappeals at home and especiallyin developing countries.” (Rule30)

Earlier this year projects inTanzania, Cambodia, Ugandaand Gambia received supportfrom the fund.

The criteria governingdisbursements from the fundand the application form areavailable frominfo@rtaireland.ie

The Solidarity Committee ischaired by Ms. Sheelagh Coyle,Vice-President. Ms. Marian Ryan(Kilkenny Branch Secretary) andMs. Marjorie Murphy (DublinNorth Branch Secretary) are theother members of the commit-tee.

11Winter 2017

Ms. Eileen Kelly (Leitrim)Mr Billy Sheehan,General Secretary

Mr. Mick Finn (NEC)

Ms. Olive Horgan (Dublin South)

Members who maintain an ongoinginterest in what’s happening at schoollevel will be pleased to know that theINTO has secured the restoration of1,200 posts of responsibility, withimmediate effect. While this does notrestore all the posts lost it is the firstsignificant tranche of PORs to be

filled since the moratorium was intro-duced in March 2009.

A new procedure for filling deputyprincipal posts through open compe-tition is to be phased in over a 6 yearperiod. From the 2017/2018 school ayear a vacancy for a deputy principalin a school with 24 mainstream

teachers must be filled through opencompetition. By the 2021/2022school year deputy principal postswill be filled by open competition inall primary schools irrespective ofsize.

Details are contained in DESCircular 63/2017.

Posts of responsibility to be restored to schools

A meeting of RTAI branch secretarieswas held in the Gresham Hotel,O’Connell Street, Dublin 1 on 21 Septlast. A representative from each ofour 32 branches was in attendance toplan the Association’s activities forthe year ahead.

General Secretary Mr. Billy Sheehanbriefed delegates on the significantdevelopments over the summer inrelation to public service pay andpensions, and Mr. Mick Finn (NEC)updated delegates on the proposalto incorporate RTAI as a Company.

Branch Secretaries’ Conference

12 RTAI Comhnasc

Commenced in 1831, the nationalschool system has been a conspicu-ous and ubiquitous feature of Irelandas is demonstrated in Stanley’s Letter:The National School System andInspectors in Ireland, 1831 – 1922.

For girls and boys, for parents andlocal communities all over Ireland,the national school has been aspecial focal point for generations.Though the origins of the nationalschool system are shrouded in thenineteenth century, the contributionof schools and teachers to life inIreland is valued and appreciated thelength and breadth of the country.Experience of primary school hasbeen a common and shared rite ofpassage for millions of children andyoung people in Ireland for close totwo hundred years. While schoolsand schooling have evolved andchanged over the years, there is conti-nuity and durability to be found inIreland’s national school system fromits foundation to the present day.

This book provides a readable andengaging account of the history ofnational schools with a clear focus onthe role of inspectors in the govern-ment’s direction and control of

elementary education. Includingtreatment of the Great Famine andworkhouse schools, the book tracesthe gradual growth and developmentof national school education as expe-rienced by vast numbers of children.Designed originally for the poor orthe ‘lower orders’, the nationalschools eventually catered for nearlyall children in Ireland.

However, the official exclusion ofthe native language and culture ofIreland from the national schools fora long period had notable effects onIrish society and contributed eventu-ally to the movement for nationalindependence. The evolution anddevelopment of the curriculum innational schools and the gradualemergence of the profession ofteaching are traced against the back-drop of frugal provision for primaryeducation.

The greatest philanthropist in thenational school system, Vere Foster,and the teachers’ organisation he helped to found, the INTO, are also featured in this book.

Many elements of Ireland’s educa-tional development are describedincluding the important question ofhow primary education commencedunder native governments both inthe north and in the south.

This book presents a scholarly andinteresting account of Ireland’snational school system. It supplies aconsiderable amount of originalinformation and insights about theevolution of education and will be ofspecial value for all who wish tounderstand contemporary issues ineducation.

Below: Cork in the 1890s

Stanley’s LetterThe National School System and Inspectors inIreland, 1831 – 1922, by Patrick F O’Donovan

Review by Maurice O’Mahony (Kerry Branch)

13Winter 2017

This article contains some usefultips for our colleagues who haveretired in recent weeks. For a morecomprehensive version of thisarticle see www.rtaireland.ie

1Check that your pensionhas been calculatedcorrectly

On retirement, the DES will furnishyou with a detailed spreadsheetlaying out how your pension has beencalculated. It is important that youcheck this for accuracy immediatelyand revert to the DES if it is incorrect.It is much easier to remediatemistakes at an early date.

The two key pieces of informationrequired to calculate pension are‘length of service’ [how long you havebeen in pensionable employment inthe public service] and your “retiringsalary” [the salary on which yourpension and lumpsum will be based.]

A comprehensive article on ourwebsite shows how pension is calcu-lated. Two different formulae apply.

One calculation applies to teach-ers who commenced work prior to 6

April 1995 and have not incurred abreak in service since. Teachers in thisgroup, who paid the lower Class Drate of PRSI for the duration of theircareers have pension and lumpsumpaid in full by the DES.

A more complex calculationapplies to teachers who startedteaching or returned to teaching aera break in service on or aer 6 April1995. Teachers in this category nowpay the higher Class A rate of PRSI andhave their DES pension coordinatedwith the State Pension [previouslyknown as the Old Age Pension.]

2 Claim your tax relief ondeductions fromlumpsum (if any)

Some teachers may have a deductionfrom the lumpsum in respect ofoutstanding pension contributions.

This most frequently arises, in thecase of women who joined theSpouses’ and Children’s Pensionscheme (Sp & Ch) when it was intro-duced in 1981. A deduction for thisbenefit is made from the teacher’slumpsum in respect of any serviceprior to 1981. For example, a woman

teacher who started teaching in 1977and who joined the scheme in 1981will have outstanding contributionsfor the first four years of her careerdeducted from her lumpsum.Women had a further opportunity tojoin the scheme in 2005 and theseteachers will have an even higherdeduction from lumpsum in relationto teaching service prior to joining.

Teachers can also have deductionsfrom lumpsum for other reasonsincluding the “buyback” of substituteservice.

These deductions are pensioncontributions and will thereforeattract tax relief. The retiree mustapply to Revenue for the tax refundand to facilitate this, the DES willinclude in the documentation issuedat retirement, a certificate for presen-tation to the RevenueCommissioners stating the amountof the deduction.

3Activate yoursupplementarypension

(This paragraph is only relevant toteachers who pay the higher Class A

Useful tipsif you’re justretired!

14 RTAI Comhnasc

PRSI i.e. those who started teachingon or aer 6 April 1995 or those who,following a break in service, returnedto teaching aer that date. Approvedleave of absence either paid orunpaid does not constitute a break inservice.)

Teachers who commencedemployment or returned aer a breakin service on or aer 6 April 1995 paythe higher Class A PRSI. The higherrate of contribution may give an enti-tlement to the State Pension. Thisarrangement is known as a coordi-nated pension, as there is a linkbetween the occupational pension(paid by the DES) and the StatePension (paid by the Department ofSocial Protection).

The State Pension is only paid fromage 66. There is a mechanism in placeto ensure that there is no income gapfor these teachers. In the intervalbetween a teacher’s retirement from

school and his/her 66th birthday, theDES will pay the teacher an additionalamount of pension referred to as a‘Supplementary Pension’. On reach-ing age 66, when the State Pensioncommences the additional ‘supple-ment’ paid by the DES will cease (or insome cases reduce).

The DES will not commence thepayment of the supplementaryelement automatically. A teachermust apply to the DES for this supple-ment. In addition the applicant mustengage with the Department of Social

Protection as part of the assessmentprocess. If the applicant is eligible forJobseeker’s Benefit (JB) the DES willnot commence the SupplementaryPension until 9 months later, whenthe JB has been exhausted.

Reference: The DES website has anInformation Note and Q&A onSupplementary Pension and theapplication form can be downloadedat www.education.gov.ie

4 Deductions of VHI premiums from Pension

Teachers who have VHI premiumsdeducted from salary and who wishto continue to have premiumsdeducted from pension should notethat VHI deductions from salary willnot automatically continue as deduc-tions from pension.

At retirement you will be asked tosign an Authorisation Form which

gives authority to the PensionSection of the DES to deductsubscriptions on behalf of VHI. Thisapplies even if you previously hadpremiums deducted from salary. TheAuthorisation Form is issued by VHIand must be returned to VHI.

VHI will require your new PensionNumber which you will only receivewith your first pension payment,before it can complete the adminis-trative process. For summerretirements it will generally be thefollowing January before deductions

will recommence.It is necessary therefore to arrange

to pay any premiums due directly toVHI, to cover the interval between thelast salary payment and thecommencement of deductions frompension.

Contact VHI on 1890 44 44 44RTAI Group Scheme No 13/655

NOTE: At present other HealthInsurance providers do not have afacility with the DES to have premi-ums deducted from salary/pension.

5Working in schoolsfollowing yourretirement

If you intend to do occasional substi-tute or fixed-term work following yourretirement it is essential that youmaintain your Teaching CouncilRegistration. (The annual renewal feeof €65 euro will apply.)

If you are one of the teachers whoto date has not been subject to GardaVetting you must also complete thisprocess. Vetting applications to theVetting Bureau are made via theTeaching Council and there is noadditional fee for the vetting process.

Taking out Substitute Membershipof the INTO (€85 per annum) isstrongly recommended. Issues in theworkplace arise from time to time forall teachers, even those who areretired and only working intermit-tently. The function of RTAI is toadvise members on matters thataffect them in retirement and theAssociation is not in a position toadvise in relation to matters thatoccur during periods of employmentas a teacher. Substitute membershipof the INTO is a very cost effectiveprotection and necessary in thiscircumstance. www.into.ie

Note: From a payment perspective,retired teachers returning to work aretreated as if they were recent gradu-ates i.e. salary is linked to the startingpoint of the scale and not the pointwhere they finished!

For a morecomprehensiveversion of thisarticle seewww.rtaireland.ie

15Winter 2017

RTAI (the Association) has operated as an unincorporatedbody of persons since its inception more than 60 yearsago. The National Executive Committee (NEC) has beenconsidering developing the legal structure of the RTAIgiven its current position, as an unincorporated body andthe drawbacks which that structure entails. The currentstructure of the Association as an unincorporated groupof persons with no formal legal standing creates legaluncertainty and risk for the Association. The Associationin its current form has no formal legal status. It is not acorporate entity, trade union and it does not come withinthe Register of Friendly Societies. Accordingly, for legalpurposes it is treated as a group, class or association ofpersons who are each individually responsible and liablefor the actions of the group. The NEC proposes to adopt amore formal approach to the running of the RTAI whileprotecting the values of the Association and the interestsof the RTAI members.

RTAI has therefore sought legal advice from HayesSolicitors regarding the Association’s legal status. Hayes have

recommended that, given the size of the RTAI and the natureof its work, incorporating the Association as a CompanyLimited By Guarantee without share capital and seekingapproval of this new entity as a registered charity wouldbe the most suitable step forward for the Association.

Incorporating as a Company Limited by Guarantee(“CLG”) A company limited by guarantee without share capital is atype of company used primarily for ‘not for profit’ organi-sations that require separate legal personality distinctfrom its members. Many charitable and professionalbodies find this form of company to be a suitable vehiclefor their purposes as they wish to secure the benefits ofseparate legal personality and of limited liability but donot require to raise funds from the members.

The current lack of legal status leaves the Association ina vulnerable position especially given the value of assetsowned by the Association. The incorporation of theAssociation would help the RTAI in its work providinginformation, advice and services to members and organis-ing a broad range of activities in Ireland and abroad formembers. The incorporation of the Association as acompany, being a separate legal personality, would meanthat the Association could hold property in its own rightand distinct from its members.

At present any member or third party with whom theAssociation engages who may suffer a loss as a result ofany actions or omissions on the part of the Associationcan pursue any or all of its members in respect of suchlosses. This would no longer be the case if the RTAIconducted business through an incorporated entity. Theincorporation of the Association as a CLG would meanthat the members of the company would no longer bepersonally liable for the Association’s debts and liabilities.

Additionally, the Association as an incorporated entitywill find it far easier to enter into contracts in its own right

RTAI Convention 2017Convention:(a) notes the ongoing work by the NEC in relation

to the legal status of the Association; and(b) agrees that a motion to establish a Company

Limited by Guarantee (CLG) should be put tothe 2018 Annual Convention.

Proposed change inlegal status for the RTAI

Joe O’Malley, Partner, Hayes solicitors

16 RTAI Comhnasc

as a separate legal entity rather thanthe pre-existing position wherebycertain authorised members arerequired to enter into contracts onbehalf of the Association as a whole.It will be able to hold property andsue and be sued in its own right.Further, the changing of membershipthrough new admissions and retire-ments will not affect the operation oraffairs of the Association, when incor-porated.

From a governance perspective,the management of the Associationas a company will be subject to theCompanies Act 2014 and that willbring greater transparency in terms ofthe Association’s compliance withexpected standards of governance.

Process The incorporation procedure would

be seamless to members. It wouldinvolve amending the current Rulesand Constitution in order to ensurethat the newly preparedMemorandum and Articles of

Association are fully compliant withIrish Company law and in particular,the Companies Act 2014. In doing so,we can preserve the core elements ofthe RTAI rules which will remainunchanged.

There will be an ongoing duty tocomply with company law, includingdelivery of annual returns to theCompanies Registration Office andpreparation of financial statements.However these requirements, whilstinvolving an on-going cost, are notonerous.

It is timely for the RTAI to nowmove forward by securing its legalstatus through incorporation in orderto protect the assets of theAssociation and its members and sothat it may continue with its vital workfor all of its members through amodern structure.

Mr. Joseph O’Malley, Partner,Hayes solicitors

To support and encourage life-long learning the RTAI insti-tuted an annual bursary scheme for members in 2013.

Applications are now invited from members of theAssociation who wish to be considered for one of our2018 bursaries. Bursaries will be awarded in two cate-gories:

Category 1 – Undergraduate / Post Graduate StudiesTwo bursaries of €1,250 will be awarded to members ofthe Association who are enrolled in the 2017/2018academic year in a degree programme, in a College orUniversity recognised as an awarding body for suchdegrees.

Proof of registration as a student and the payment ofcollege fees will be required.

An external assessor will select the winner(s) in thiscategory.

Category 2 – Other courses of studyThree bursaries of €500 each will be awarded to membersof the Association, who in 2017/2018 are engaged in acourse of learning, though not pursuing a formal

academic qualification to degree level. This is a broadcategory designed to support the wide range of pursuitsand interests of our members.

The nature of a bursary is to assist with the financialcosts involved in undertaking the course and in thiscontext applicants will have to show evidence of spending€500 or more on course costs.

The winners of the bursaries in this category will beselected by lottery.

Application FormTo request an application form please contactinfo@rtaireland.ie.

Closing date: Completed applications must be receivedin Head Office by Monday 8th January 2018.

Note 1: In the event that all bursaries in a category arenot awarded the funding in the other category can becorrespondingly increased.

Note 2: Only retired teachers who are currentlymembers of the RTAI will be eligible for consideration. Inaddition preference will be given to members who havenot previously received an RTAI bursary.

RTAI Bursaries 2018

17Winter 2017

During the course of a recent phoneconversation with my good friend ,Tommy Hayes from Kilkenny, wereminisced about our student days inSt. Patrick’s Teacher Training College,Drumcondra, in the years 1954/’56and we, inevitably, harkened backover great times as members of theErin’s Hopes Hurling Team.

Hurling was the poor relation ofGAA activities in the college at thetime as the majority of the studentscame from the Wild Atlantic Waycounties of the West and Southwestof Ireland and football was theirpassion. The College staff and theDean, in particular, had little time forhurling and it was quite difficult topersuade him to provide some sparehurleys and sliotars for our needs.

I found this grudging attitude quitedifficult to understand because as apast student of St. Flannan’s College,Ennis, I was accustomed to the veryimportant place that hurling held inits hallowed history. Nevertheless,even though we as hurlers envied the

attention and the support given toGaelic Football in the college, thehurling enthusiasts ploughed a lonefurrow and still managed to achievesome worthwhile successes.

At the time the hurling team wereonly allowed to participate in thetwelve team Dublin IntermediateLeague, which admittedly was quitecompetitive. The footballers wereaccommodated in the Dublin SeniorChampionship, because of theirrecognised status.

In the ’54/’55 year the hurlers hadonly limited success but the ’55/’56year had a few notable achievements.The players themselves, especiallythose in their second year, fullymanaged the team’s preparation andselection. In both those years wewere also invited to play in theKavanagh Cup, a competition involv-ing teams from a number of facultiesin UCD such as the AgriculturalCollege, the Veterinary College, theCollege of Science, Earlsfort Terraceetc.

We had excellent victories in thatcompetition in both 1955 and 1956and we proudly brought the cup backto the college and paraded it aroundthe study hall, during study time, inorder to garner some bragging rightsfor the hurlers. Unfortunately, there

Memories of St. Pat’sHurling Team

in the Mid 1950sDonie Nealon (Tipperary Branch)

Erin’s Hope team captain 1955/’56Donie Nealon won many honoursin a distinguished career including5 senior All Ireland Hurling medals

with Tipperary.

St. Pat’s Drumcondra/Erin’s Hope – Hurling Team of 1955/’56

Back row l to r: Ollie McMahon (Tipp), Fintan Walsh (Laois), Fintan Brennan (Clare) John Fahy (Clare), Ml.Moroney (Waterford), Brian Horan (Limerick), Séan McNamara (Clare), Denis Gardiner (Tipp), Paddy Fogarty

(Tipp), Seán Cleary (Clare) and Noel McMahon (Offaly).

Front row l to r: Micheál O’Brien (Cork, Vice-Capt.), Tommy Hayes (Kilkenny), Séamus Cahill (Kilkenny), DonalHurley (Cork), Donal Nealon (Tipp. Capt.), Michael Dooley (Offaly), Paddy Carroll (Cork), Mick O’Dea (Waterford)

and Tom Neylon (Clare)

were no medals presented for thatcompetition by the UCD organisingcommittee, much to the disappoint-ment of our players.

We had an amazing run of victoriesin the Intermediate League in ’55/’56,never losing a game, but winning ninegames and drawing two, giving us atotal of 20 pts. But Na Fianna, a newly-formed rising club at the time, wonten games and drew one for a total of21 pts. So we had to be content withthe runner-up spot but we did getvery nice medals for our achievementand I still cherish that medal as amemento of those wonderful care-free and enjoyable days in St. Pat’s. Asthe song says, “those were the daysmy friends, those were the days”.

I know that most of my teammates are still hale and hearty,Buíochas le Dia, bar a few dear friendswho have passed on. Solas nabhFlaitheas da n-anamacha uaisle.

In the same year of 1956, theSenior Football Team achieved amost notable success, as underdogs,in defeating a star-studded St.Vincent’s side in the Dublin CountyFinal. Three of our outstanding

hurlers i.e. Micheál Ó Brien (Cork),Donal Hurley (Cork) and Fintan Walsh(Laois) were also excellent membersof the successful football team.

St. Pat’s is a very different andmuch enlarged college, nowadays, asit’s amalgamated with DCU but I hopeit will still maintain its own identity forGAA purposes, in order to continuethe long and proud tradition of Erin’sHopes or Dóchas Éireann.

Notice

Carysfort 50 Years Reunion 1967 – 201723 November 2017

For details see ‘events’ section at www.rtaireland.ie

18 RTAI Comhnasc

19Winter 2017

Thomas Ashe, school Principaland INTO member, died aged32 on 25 September 1917 inthe Mater Hospital followinginjuries sustained under forcefeeding in Mountjoy Prison.How was his death marked bythe politically neutral INTO?

Padraig Yeates says of Thomas Ashe:“Although largely forgotten today,…ofall the post-Rising leaders of theadvanced nationalist cause he wasthe only one of a calibre to match deValera or Collins. In many ways heseemed to combine the best quali-ties of both, and with a moreattractive personality than either.”

Ashe, an INTO member, was intouch with some leading figures in

the union. While INTO came toacknowledge his leadership in thecultural-nationalist cause and tohonour him as a member and patriot,there was an element of “retrofit”about this; the union’s contemporaryview was much more ambivalent.

INTO Tributes to AsheOn five significant occasions Ashe hasbeen commemorated in official INTOevents.• In 2016, at Ashe’s former school

near Lusk (Co Dublin) the INTOPresident laid a wreath at thememorial tree which the unionhad planted in his memory.

• In 1985, the centenary of Ashe’sbirth, an earlier INTO Presidentplanted that tree alongside anew memorial plaque in the

school garden. • At the 50th anniversary of the

Easter Rising, in an INTO commem-oration, President of IrelandEamonn de Valera visited theschool and a plaque inside thebuilding was unveiled by Ashe’ssister Nora.

• INTO in 1954 presented theTeachers’ Club with a painting ofAshe. In a grandiloquent national-istic speech, INTO President HJMcManus said that Ashe’s sacrifice“had united the people against thecommon enemy”. I will revisit thisidea of a “common enemy”.

These commemorations contrastwith INTO coverage in

1917 which coylyomitted any

reference toeither Ashe’s

Remembering Thomas Ashe(1885-1917)

Teacher and Nationalist IconNoel Ward INTO Deputy General Secretary

An event washeld in the

Teachers’ Clubon 25

September last tomark the centenary

of Thomas Ashe’sdeath.

Photographed withINTO President JohnBoyle are Mr. Pádraig

Ashe (a grand-nephew) and his son

Mr. Ciarán Ashe (agreat grand-nephew)

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21Winter 2017

military activities or the circum-stances of his death. It reported hehad: “died under such tragiccircumstances … He was a young manof strikingly handsome presenceand possessed literary talents of ahigh order. His death is sincerelymourned”.

Ashe as an INTO MemberThe Annual Directory for 1908records Ashe as a member of the“Tralee No. 2” Association of NationalTeachers. On becoming Principal ofCorduff NS, his membership contin-ued through the Dublin CentralTeachers’ Association.

Writing from Lewes Jail just beforeChristmas 1916 Ashe asked his sisterNora to send Christmas cards on hisbehalf to several people. Theseincluded prominent INTO figuresTom Nunan, a member of theExecutive Committee, and CatherineMahon, who had served two succes-sive terms as President (1912-1914).

Catherine Mahon was a commit-ted nationalist. She correspondedwith Ashe while he was in Lewesprison and Mahon’s biographerrecords that on the day of Ashe’sfuneral she closed her school andmarched the children to the churchin protest.

Tom Nunan was on the INTOExecutive from 1909 and would servetwo terms as President. One can onlyspeculate about Nunan’s links withAshe and why he too was to receive aChristmas card. Both were at thesame time INTO members in Traleeand may have met at that stage; itwould not be surprising if this, alliedto their Kerry kinship, brought themtogether in mutual regard.

Within INTO, Unionist teachers’views of the 1916 Rising were clear inresolutions which condemned those“trying to raise a rebellion in Ireland atthe direction of, and with the assis-tance of, Germany”. And when theRising was characterised as a school-masters’ rebellion, the INTO Executive

stated that teachers generally had“no connection whatever” with theinsurrection. This indicated neutralityin the cause for which Ashe wasprepared to give his life.

By 1917, the public mood hadbecome more favourable towardsthe insurgents. The Evening Herald,reporting Ashe’s huge funeral, listedtwenty labour bodies – the TransportWorkers the most numerous –among the marchers. While there wasno mention of the INTO, notwith-standing the Trades Council call forworkers to take part, the Herald wasimpressed by the numbers ofnational teachers “who marched withuncovered heads”.

Following Ashe’s death, manyINTO sections passed votes ofcondolence. The Ashe Exhibition inDingle Library (2017) displaysletters to his sister and to his father,recording such votes.

The INTO Executive (6 October1917) unanimously passed a vote ofsympathy on the death “of this bril-liant young Irish Teacher who wasalways a sterling member of ourOrganisation”. This formula, seekingto hold INTO together despite dividedloyalties on nationality, was followedin several other INTO tributes.

The “Common Enemy” It is rare to find critical commentabout Ashe or his activities. Thehagiography at the Teachers’ Clubevent in 1954 is a case in point, wherethe INTO President saw Ashe’s sacri-fice as uniting “the people against thecommon enemy”.

Who constituted this “commonenemy”? Ashe’s most significant mili-tary involvement was at the Battle ofAshbourne (1916). The thirteen fatal-ities there included two of Ashe’svolunteers, three civilians and eightmember of the Royal IrishConstabulary (RIC).

Of the eight RIC fatalities, sevenwere Irish-born, the majority were co-religionists of Ashe and three were

aged in their twenties. Of these Irish-born dead, two came from Co Galway,with one each from Tyrone,Roscommon, Sligo, Cavan andKilkenny. Were these the “commonenemy”? A balanced overview ofsacrifices should recall these deadalso, unmentioned on the largememorial at Ashbourne but nowincluded in the Remembrance Wallat Glasnevin Cemetery.

Mícheál Ó Móráin has indicated afurther complication, recountingthat the RIC sergeant at Ashbournewas married to Michael Collins’cousin, who protected her childrenon the floor while the barracks wasbesieged.

ConclusionCharles Townshend describes Asheas: “an iconic figure who … had uniqueprestige as the most successfulmilitary figure of the rebellion … Hispoetry … marked him out as Pearse’smost authentic successor”

Ashe clearly shared Pearse’scommitment to education and hisstrong religious faith. He was both amemorable teacher and a solid INTOmember. Remembering him as anINTO loyalist recalls also how theINTO was challenged both by thedirection and the pace of the changewhich Ashe hastened both in his lifeand through his death.

Sources• INTO Journals, Annual Directories

and CEC Reports• Ó Lúing, Seán, I Die in a Good

Cause – Thomas Ashe: A Biography(Cork: Mercier Press, reissued2017)

• Ó Móráin, Micheál, Tomás Ághas(Lios Póil: Coiste Cuimhneacháin,2017)

• Yeates, Padraig, A City in Wartime –Dublin 1914-1918 (Dublin: Gill &Macmillan, 2011)

• Townshend, Charles, Easter 1916 –the Irish Rebellion (London:Penguin Books, 2005)

22 RTAI Comhnasc

PAYE/Income taxreturn

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Night Class Music Teaching OpportunitiesCÓRus, Ireland’s leading provider of fun singing classes for adults is looking for new teachers.

Teaching fee per class €100.

Whilst a music qualification is required, conducting or choir experience is not , but is helpful.However, a great sense of humour, a love of music and teaching is essential!

‘On the job’ paid training in the CÓRus methodology will be provided for successful candidates training rate of €50 per class).

CÓRus is currently putting together a new panel of teachers and will be holding open auditionsduring the month of November.

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23Winter 2017

A draw for €100.00 will be made from all correct entries. Simply complete the crossword and send to: Comhnasc,R.T.A.I., Vere Foster House, 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, before close of business on Friday, 12 January 2018

Across

1 Could be a king or abutterfly! (7)

5 Mischievous act. (5)8 Come between and diffuse an

argument. (7)9 A blaggard found in a pack of

cards! (5)10 The best of the crop! (5)11 Parachuting in supplies. (3-4)12 Misunderstandings. (3-3)14 Jewish law collection. (6)17 Having a low blood count. (7)19 Robber. (5)22 Used for sticking glass into

windows. (5)23 Used to be an attendant to a

knight but now a titleoccasionally appended to aman’s name. (7)

24 Strange and frightening. ( 5)25 Skillfully done. (7)

Down1 Copy. (5)2 This is just as good as a wink! (5)3 Used to find the way around

before sat navs! (4,3)4 What’s that ass saying? (3-3)5 Is it a fireplace tool or a card

game? ( 5)6 All these letters are mixed up!

(7)7 Protection for the patella. (4,3)12 A filling snack definitely not

for vegetarians! (4,3)13 Used to be the thing that made

you stand out from the crowd:but now a reality TV show! (1,6)

15 Something as old as myself! (7)16 Unpleasant affliction of the

skin. (6)18 Possibly? (5)20 Someone as silly as myself! (5)21 Someone as hot tempered as

myself! (5)

Comhnasc Crossword

Scribble Pad

Name:Address:

Winner ofCrossword No. 22Bríd Verdon,Raheny,Dublin 5.

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Dromakeenan N.S., Roscrea. CAR – Toyota Yaris: Maeve McCafferty,

Kilmurray N.S., Castlerea.Weekend for two plus two All Ireland

Football final tickets:Jonathan McKenna, St. Oliver Plunkett

School, Malahide. &Elizabeth Carmody, Knocklong, Co.

Limerick.Cash – € 1,000: Seán O Muircheartaigh,

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Winners of July Draw 2017CAR – Toyota Corolla: Sinéad Cunnane,

Scoil Pádraig Naofa, Bray.CAR – Toyota Yaris: Catherine Dowd,

Rathfarnham, Dublin 16.Weekend for two plus two All Ireland

Football final tickets:Máirín Úi Chonchubhair, Blanchardstown,

Dublin 15. & Gerard Fox, Whitehall Dublin 9.Cash – € 1,000: Helen Dunne, Baile Coireil

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Winners of August Draw2017CAR – Toyota Corolla: Colette Baynes, S.N.

Aibhistín Naofa, Cluain Tuaiscirt.CAR – Toyota Yaris: Pauline O’Hara,

Milltownpass N.S.CASH – € 1,500: Jacqueline Cummins, St.

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Weekend for two in Jury’s Inn: MaryCleary S.N. Chartaigh Naofa. Rahan. &

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Winners of September Draw2017CAR – Toyota Corolla: Mícheál F Ó

Mátharbhuí, Youghal.CAR – Toyota Yaris: Pádraig Ó Connachtain,

S.N. na hAcraí, Burtonport.CASH – € 1,500: Margaret Cooper, Sisters

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