asked the Minister for Education the number of metalwork teachers that qualified in 1976; and the number of these who have succeeded in getting teaching positions.

A total of 28 trainees obtained full qualifications in 1976 as a result of training courses for teachers of metal work conducted by my Department. Of these trainees, 25 have already obtained teaching positions.

Have any metalwork teaching positions been filled in the country by teachers who are working elsewhere on a part-time basis?

Have any metalwork teaching positions——

Have any teaching posts which were declared vacant in any vocational schools been filled by teachers working elsewhere thus depriving newly trained teachers of a full-time position?

I do not follow the point of the Deputy is trying to elicit. Does he mean people working outside this country or people in other employment or part-time employment?

Specifically, would the Minister say if, in fact, a vacancy for a metalwork teacher in Mullingar Vocational School was advertised and then filled by somebody already working with the committee, somebody who was working overtime and on a part-time basis?

I could not say.

The Deputy is raising a particular matter which deserves a particular question.

Will the Minister inquire about the position?

I will, of course. If the Deputy had put down that question I would have answered it.

I wanted more information and I got none.

I am not trying to be evasive.

Would the Minister say if he has any evidence that trained metalwork teachers who do not succeed in getting employment immediately in our vocational schools are lost to the system because they get jobs in industry subsequently?

No. In fact, my understanding is that the training courses are geared to bring out at the end of the course as near as possible —although it does not always work that way—to the number of trained teachers necessary to fill the vacancies it is thought will exist then.

The Minister said 28 were fully trained. Is that right? They have their full qualifications?

A total of 28 trainees obtained full qualifications of whom 25 have already obtained teaching positions. One is working part-time in Dublin having already refused a job in Donegal. Of the three qualified teachers who have not yet obtained teaching positions, one has already refused an offer of whole-time employment in County Donegal, and the remaining two are applicants for the post on the County Donegal VEC.