andMr. MacSharry asked the Minister for Labour the number of people employed in his Department in each of the last four years; the number of people employed in each of the same years without having taken part in a public competition; and the number of people employed in the past six months without having taken part in a public competition.

The total number of people recruited to the Department of Labour in each of the last four years was: 1973, 78; 1974, 100; 1975, 64; 1976, 37.

The number recruited in each of these years without taking part in a public competition was: 1973, 6; 1974, 6; 1975, 3; 1976, 5.

The number recruited in the last 6 months without taking part in a public competition was 3.