asked the Minister for Education when he proposes to sanction the appointment of replacements to the various vacant posts at present in the School of Art, Limerick.

Proposals from the City of Limerick Vocational Education Committee for appointments to two posts at Lecturer I level to Limerick School of Art and Design are currently under examination in my Department. Discussions on the proposals will be expedited as much as possible.

How long have they been under examination?

Two proposals were put forward by the City of Limerick Vocational Education Committee in the autumn. Both of the people involved received their qualifications outside the country and it is necessary for the Department to investigate those qualifications before the appointments can be sanctioned. I expect that one of the appointments will be finalised within about a week but it will take some further time to carry out a detailed assessment of the qualifications of the second person. I should also mention that two posts were sanctioned by my Department on 29 October and 9 November but the appointees have not yet taken up duty. In relation to a further two posts the VEC have made appointments but have not submitted the proposals to my Department as yet, and in relation to a further two posts, the VEC have not yet advertised them.

The net result of that is, unfortunately, that there are ten vacancies in the school.

There are eight vacancies.

Does the Minister not feel it is grossly unsatisfactory to have eight vacancies at the one time in a school like that? I do not know what the full complement of teachers is but it is probably only something like 15 or 16. This means that half the teaching staff is non-existent. I know there have been very long delays with each proposal that has been put up. They have all taken at least six months in the Department. In the circumstances, could they be expedited?

On a point of order, could I ask the Minister to speak a little louder as we find it impossible to hear him up here.

Ceist 14.