asked the Minister for Education the plans he has for solving the dispute involving the administrative staff of the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee and his Department.

Views put forward by the vocational education committee in relation to this matter are under consideration in my Department and a decision in regard to these will be conveyed as soon as possible.

Is it the case that the VEC are satisfied to make certain appointments in this grade and that they await sanction?

Yes. The committee are anxious to make certain appointments and they have put proposals to the Department which are under discussion.

If the committee are satisfied there is need for this personnel why are the Department taking such a long time to sanction?

The relationship between teacher/pupil and administrative staff is more favourable in the Dublin VEC area than in any other area in the country. The VEC are saying there are different problems in Dublin and that, therefore, they should be treated differently. The discussions are being held to establish the authenticity of this claim.

Does the Minister find it easy to believe that in a city like Dublin there would be added problems?

I accept that and it is for that reason that they are already being treated more favourably in Dublin than in other VEC areas.

Would the Minister indicate how much more favourably they are being treated at the moment?

I have not got that information.