asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that a number of teachers of Irish were employed for more than one month, and in some cases three months, by County Committees of Agriculture and Technical Instruction before being asked to make the declaration required by Section 71 of the Local Government Act, 1925, and whether, as the Committees did not understand and were not informed that that section applied to those teachers who were re-appointed from year to year, he will sanction payment of salaries earned by such teachers prior to their being asked to make the declaration?

I understand that the facts are as stated in the question, but I have no power to sanction payment of salary to any officer who does not comply with the requirements of the section referred to nor would any sanction of mine legalise payment of salary to such officer.

Will the Minister state if he will shortly be in a position to introduce legislation dealing with this matter as the imposition of this test is inflicting a serious injury on the teaching of Irish?

No, I cannot say that I will be shortly in a position to introduce legislation on the matter.

Will the Minister recommend payment of the salaries earned by such teachers prior to their being asked to make the declaration? Surely they are entitled to their salaries prior to that?

I have already stated that no action of mine will legalise such payment.

Has the Minister received any information from authoritative sources proving that the imposition of this test has a serious detrimental effect on the teaching of Irish all over the country?

No.

Can the Minister say what is the connection between the Minister for Education in this matter and the Department of Local Government and Public Health, which is the Department referred to in the Act?

The Act refers to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health and requires that a certain formula be taken. What is the Deputy's point?

I want to know how the Minister for Education comes into this matter.

We were ultimately consulted on the point as to whether the part-time teachers of the Technical Committees were officers under this particular section. The Committees responsible—technical instruction being now under the Department of Education—consulted us. We got advice on the matter and ultimately conveyed that advice to the local Committees.

Is the Minister aware that local Committees recommended payment? To whom are they to apply for these payments?