asked the Minister for Agriculture if he can state the number of Irish-speaking agricultural overseers to be placed in the Gaeltacht, and when they propose to take up duties.

Twenty-one vacancies for Irish-speaking assistant agricultural overseers for the Gaeltacht have been advertised. The recommendations of the Civil Service Commissioners in the matter have not yet been received, but if a sufficient number of qualified candidates are available, the appointments should be made in the course of a few months. It is anticipated that eventually the number of such appointments will be approximately forty.