asked the Minister for Education if he will make a comprehensive statement on the available and planned courses leading to the qualification of guidance teachers; and if he intends to establish further courses in non-university colleges.

Courses leading to the qualification of guidance teachers are available at University College, Dublin. I have not been advised of any proposals from non-university colleges to introduce such courses.

I do not consider that action on the part of the Minister for Education in relation to the matter of the provision of further courses is called for at present, but the matter will be kept under review.

Would the Minister not agree that this is a particular aspect of education of which practising teachers could avail very easily if such courses were available in, say, regional technical colleges, courses they could do over a longer period than is practicable in a university, and would he consider establishing such courses in regional technical colleges because of the shortage of qualified guidance teachers?

That would, of course, mean that special staff would have to be recruited in these colleges. At the moment I have no such plans but I will keep the Deputy's suggestion in mind. I suppose he would not object to one in Waterford in the RTC.

Does the Minister consider there is at the moment an insufficient supply of trained guidance teachers?

I have statistics on that and we have improved the situation greatly.

Only slightly.

In fact from a very low starting point we have done very well.

Questions Nos. 35 and 36 are for written reply.

Question No. 37 postponed.