asked the Minister for Education if he will take the required steps regarding a refund of superannuation so that the necessary library staff can be seconded to the Regional College, Sligo.

The necessary steps have been taken to facilitate secondment in this case.

Can the Minister say when?

This week.

What day this week?

I am not absolutely sure but it will be some time this week anyway.

Would the Minister or his Department envisage a situation in which regional colleges could employ the library staff necessary to run the library in the colleges?

I could envisage it but I think the decision was taken a good few years ago that the neater arrangement was to transfer them on secondment from the local authority.

I accept that, but is the Minister aware that the Sligo Regional College are anxious to provide more staff?

I am prepared to accept representations in that regard from the representative body of the VEC.