asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the serious cut-backs in the 1979 financial estimate for North Tipperary VEC under the headings of (i) maintenance of schools and classes; (ii) scholarships; and, if so, if he will allocate additional finance to meet the estimates as prepared and submitted by that committee.

I am aware of the amount sought by this Vocational Education Committee and of the allocations made by my Department in the committee's financial scheme for 1979 under both the headings specified in the question.

An appeal by the committee against this allocation was received on 3 April and is at present being examined in my Department.

Will the Minister give an indication of how long it normally takes to consider such appeal? When may the vocational education committee concerned expect to have some news from the Minister one way or another?

I cannot give an exact date to the Deputy but there will not be any delay.

Will the Minister not accept that there is a certain urgency about this in the sense that the committee concerned may have to advertise for students who may be eligible for scholarships in the coming year and that the sanction of whatever money is necessary should not be postponed unduly so as to jeopardise this date?

All I can say is that £910,355 has been allocated in 1979. The original allocation in 1978 was £776,054. I think the situation is not grave but there will not be any undue delay in considering the extra allocation.