asked the Minister for the Environment the reasons for debarring people with leaving certificates from qualifying to sit for posts in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Persons with leaving certificates are not debarred from competitions for posts in local authorities.

Does the Minister agree that there is a grading system at present and only top rankers are called for those interviews? This is very unfair.

In his question the Deputy asked if people who have leaving certificates are debarred from qualifying for posts with local authorities. The answer is that they are not.

They are not called if they have not sufficient marks.