asked the Minister for Education if he is aware of the dissatisfaction among the academic staff of regional colleges and colleges of technology in relation to the level of their salaries and the comparable salaries of academic posts in universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

A claim for an increase in the salaries of members of the academic staffs of regional technical colleges and colleges of technology is at present under discussion by the Conciliation Council for Teachers. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment on the matter.