asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that letters from school managers to his Department are frequently not acknowledged or replied to for several months; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that replies are issued to all such letters within a reasonable time.

Letters from managers are dealt with as quickly as possible. A very large volume of mail arrives in the Department daily and it would not be practicable to acknowledge individual letters. The question of replying to correspondence without delay is kept constantly under review through staff training and organisation, et cetera.