asked the Minister for Education the number of places that were available in the teacher training colleges in each year from 1977 to the present year for students, including graduates, in the primary school sector; and if he will state in relation to the last two years, the actual and percentage increase or decrease in such teaching places.

The information is given in the form of a tabular statement which, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report.

Following is the statement:

*Not including 266 graduates who participated in the Special Trainee Teacher Scheme Course December 1977-December 1978.

The number of students admitted in 1980 was seven (0.6%) less than in 1979. The number of students admitted in 1981 was 216 (19.2%) less than in 1980.

Will the Minister indicate that in each year for some years past a minimum of 300 teachers was made available to improve the pupil-teacher ratio in the primary schools above and beyond the numbers needed for replacement of those who retired on age grounds or for any other reason?

That supplementary is statistical and that information was not in any way asked for or referred to in the question. If the Deputy cares to table a question in that regard, I will be only too pleased to answer it.

Will the Minister give us the percentage increase or decrease in teaching places over the past two years as asked for in my question?

That is part of the tabular statement.

Give us the last two years. It will take only a moment.

The percentage increase or decrease over the past two years.

The actual numbers.

The numbers are part of the tabular statement.

We just want the last two lines.

It will be circulated with the Official Report.

Will the Minister agree that I am right in assuming that the number admitted to teacher training colleges each year is determined by the Department, as distinct from the number admitted to other teachers' courses for secondary schools and that the State has a duty to provide jobs for people who are admitted and trained?

The first part of Deputy Power's question is correct. In relation to the second part, we have to take into account that various courses are provided by the State in various areas. I have never heard it suggested — although it would be very desirable — that people attending AnCO or ACOT courses were to be guaranteed the right of employment by the State for the remainder of their working years. I am not certain whether that is what the Deputy is suggesting. If it is I have never heard it put in that way before. I am not certain whether that is the general tenor of his question.

I did not receive a reply to my question about the actual percentage increase or decrease in teaching places in the past two years.

It will be included in the Official Report.

Could we know the percentage increase or decrease in the past two years?

I was endeavouring to extract that from the tabular statement when Deputy Wilson began huffing and puffing again. I thought it was simpler to circulate it with the Official Report.

I asked a simple question.

If Deputy Wilson will stay quiet for a moment and let me extract it, I will be happy to give those figures.

Not merely will he not act as Minister for Education, but he will not act as Ceann Comhairle.

I have never endeavoured to interfere with the Chair in any way. The percentage figures are 0.6 and 19.2.

In view of the 19.2 per cent decrease in the number of places, how can the Minister talk about his efforts to improve the pupil-teacher ratio? His Department control the actual number of teaching places in the training colleges.

I was dealing with the factual situation. I explained to the House a number of times that the Government decided not only to employ but provide salaries for 300 additional teachers this year to improve the pupil-teacher ratio.

That was our decision every year over the past four years.