asked the Minister for Education if he has had any consultations with the INTO prior to the announcement of his intention to introduce university graduates in primary schools.

7.

asked the Minister for Education the present position with regard to the employment of university graduates on a permanent basis in primary schools; and if he intends to pursue this policy.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 7 together.

It should be noted that there has for many years been an advertised competition annually for the admission of university graduates to a one-year course in a college of education to enable them to qualify for recognition as teachers in national schools on a permanent basis. It is the intention that such competitions should continue.

In the case of the special scheme for the employment of graduates as trainee teachers in national schools there were consultations with the INTO executive prior to the announcement of this scheme. In fact, the executive agreed to the scheme when I modified it to omit them in certain areas.

Can the Minister say why there was such an about-turn by the INTO and why the scheme was completely rejected later?

In the month of July the only effective people available for consultation were the democratically elected executive of the INTO. By a democratic process in accordance with their rules, the members of the INTO held a special congress which rejected the scheme as originally proposed. The distinction is quite clear. Anybody conversant with normal trade union procedure will understand what happened.

Does that imply that the executive were out of touch with the wishes of the ordinary members?

It is not part of my duty to reflect on the democratically elected executive of any trade union.

Does the Minister intend to have a similar scheme next year?

Deputy John Horgan is next.

I do not want to disobey a rule but I should like to comment on the supplementary question, if it pleases the Chair. The basic principle in our manifesto was that we were to improve the pupil-teacher ratio. Every possible avenue for the recruitment of trained teachers will be explored to ensure that the pupil-teacher ratio is improved.