asked the Minister for the Environment the reason for the delay in appointing the four extra planning inspectors to An Bord Pleanála.

Appointment of the four planning inspectors is a matter for An Bord Pleanála. Terms and conditions for the employment of inspectors were recently approved by my Department and I understand that the board are now considering the matter.

This is an absolute and utter farce. How can An Bord Pleanála appoint four planning inspectors when they do not employ any planning inspectors at present? They are all members of the Minister's staff. They do not make appointments. This matter has to be cleared up, and I hope the Chair will allow the Minister plenty of time to state exactly what the position is.

The number of planning inspectors assigned to An Bord Pleanála was 15 on 1 January 1984. It is open to the board to recruit a further four inspectors in accordance with an approved inspectorate.

I do not accept that information. The Minister is giving misleading information to the Dáil.

I am not. I resent that. I am not giving misleading information to the Dáil.

The Minister said 15 planning inspectors were assigned. They are assigned from his Department.

The Deputy must ask a question.

I will ask a question. Is it not true that these people are assigned from the Minister's Department, that they consider themselves to be in the employ of his Department, that they deny they are employees of An Bord Pleanála? It is wrong of the Minister to inform the House, I submit, that An Bord Pleanála can appoint four planning inspectors when they do not even employ the planning inspectors who are working in the board at present.

The Deputy is making a statement.

They are employees of the Minister's Department and they have always maintained that they are.

Section 10 of the 1976 Act enables the board to appoint their own employees subject to the approval of the Minister for the Environment——

Which they never got.

——with regard to the number and kind of employees required.

The Minister may be new in his Department and may not understand——

If the Deputy has a question I will allow him to ask it.

I suggest he should brief himself instead of giving misleading information to the Dáil.

I have not given misleading information.

Could I ask a straight question?

The Deputy must accept the Minister's assurance that he is not giving misleading information.

I am sorry, but the Minister seems to be poorly informed on the position. Does the Minister believe that the planning inspectors who are working in An Bord Pleanála at present are actually employees of the board, employed by the chairman and the members?

The question deals with the appointment of four extra planning inspectors.

Section 10 of the 1976 Act enables the board to employ their own employees subject to the approval of the Minister.

That is the sting. That approval has never been given.

Uimhir 7.

Has the Minister given permission to the board to employ their own staff?

I have given them permission to employ a further four.

And the Minister believes that information is correct?

That seems to be the answer to the question.

That is so unsatisfactory that I will have to raise it on the Adjournment. The Minister will want to go away and get the information.

The Chair will communicate with Deputy Molloy.

That is the answer the Deputy will get on the Adjournment.