asked the Minister for Education if the rules for national schools permit the employment of untrained substitute teachers; if so, in what circumstances and subject to what conditions; and the maximum period such teachers may be employed for.

The rules for national schools require that substitutes are qualified teachers. The rules provide, however, that where it is impossible for a teacher to obtain a qualified substitute, a person, who though not qualified, is otherwise deemed suitable may be accepted as substitute. The employment of such a substitute is subject to the conditions (a) that he/ she holds at least a pass in the leaving certificate including a pass in Irish, (b) that the board of management agree to his/her employment, and (c) that the teacher agrees to pay the substitute the appropriate rates laid down by my Department.

No maximum period is laid down for the employment of substitutes. This would depend on the period of absence which might be sanctioned by my Department for any individual teacher.

Would the Minister state who decides whether or not it is impossible to find a qualified teacher? Would he agree that a period of four months for the employment of an untrained, substitute teacher in a large suburban school is unreasonable?

I suggest as an answer to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary that the board of management and the efforts made by them would indicate whether or not a qualified substitute was available. With regard to the four months mentioned by the Deputy I am not in a position, not knowing the circumstances to which he refers, to state if that is too long or not. I would like to add further that it would be my policy and is my firmly held belief that fully qualified teachers should be available to fill substitutes' places and, of course, to fill the ordinary places on the staff of the schools.

Arising out of the Minister's reply——

This is the Deputy's third supplementary. There are a number of other questions. Will the Deputy be quick, please?

Most of them are mine and I do not wish to delay the Minister any more than you do. Would the Minister not agree that it is extraordinary that in Dublin, 1978, a fully qualified teacher cannot be found for a school for four months?

I do not know if it is extraordinary or not. I do not know what the circumstances are. Perhaps the Deputy would do me the honour of writing to me about this particular situation.

I will.

I hope the Minister will be able to distinguish the handwriting.

I hope so. I hope a pig's dinner is not made of it as was made of one recently.