asked the Minister for Education whether, as stated in a previous reply to a question on the matter, the Department has received any reply to the communications sent to the manager and the principal teacher regarding the provision of a suitable substitute for St. Bernard's National School, Clonbroney Parish, County Longford, and whether the Minister can state if any compensatory advantages will be made available for the children of this school for the loss of a suitable teacher from Christmas to the present date.

Yes. Communications have been received. Owing to the circumstances indicated in my reply to the Deputy's previous question it has not been found possible to secure a suitable substitute.

With regard to the second part of the question, I refer the Deputy to my answer to his supplementary question on this subject on the 30th ultimo.