asked the Minister for Education the intake of dental students in each of the past five years; and the number who have qualified in the same period.

The intake of first year dental students in each of the past five years is as follows: 1973-74, 57; 1974-75, 58; 1975-76, 63; 1976-77, 60; 1977-78, 65.

The number of dental students who graduated in each of the years from 1971-72 to 1975-76 is as follows: 1971-72, 51; 1972-73, 37; 1973-74, 53; 1974-75, 51; 1975-76, 52.

The figure for graduates in the academic year 1976-77 has not yet been made available to my Department.