asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to a statement by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal which claims that her Department owes the Donegal Vocational Education Committee £1 million; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I am aware of the statement in question referred to by the Deputy. There is no foundation whatsoever to the statement. Funding for each VEC is made available on an annual basis by my Department. Such funding is provided from available resources after assessment by my Department of each individual committee's financial requirements for operating authorised services. There is no basis, therefore, for any assertion by any individual that County Donegal Vocational Education Committee is owed money by my Department. I would stress that it is a matter for each VEC and its chief executive officer to plan, control and monitor its annual expenditure within authorisied financial allocations.

Did I hear the Minister say that the chief executive officer of County Donegal Vocational Education Committee had given inaccurate and misleading information to the committee?

I did not hear what the Deputy said.

Is the Minister saying to the House that the chief executive officer of County Donegal Vocational Education Committee gave wrong and misleading information to the committee and the general public?

Those are the Deputy's own words. I said there is no foundation whatsoever to the statement referred to in the Deputy's question. Furthermore, I said that funding for each VEC is made available on an annual basis by my Department. That is the situation that has obtained. As Deputy Harte knows this matter has gone on for some years while he was a member of the Government party in this House. It appears no attempt was made by the Deputy or by anybody else concerned at that point to bring about what he now desires be brought about.

I resent the attitude and tone of the Minister's reply. What I am trying to establish — and I furnished the Minister with the relevant press statement — is whether the chief executive officer of County Donegal Vocational Education Committee furnished information which was accurate or inaccurate?

The Deputy has already made that point and we are having repetition.

A Cheann Comhairle, I beg to differ with you. I have asked a question and have supplied the relevant press cutting to the Minister.

The Chair has no power over questions and indeed little power over answers.

May I ask the Minister, did the chief executive officer give misleading information to County Donegal Vocational Education Committee publicly——

That is the third time the Deputy has asked that question.

——thereby misinforming the general public in County Donegal? That is what was said in the press cutting I sent the Minister for her information.

We are all aware that sometimes the contents of press cutings are at variance with actual happenings. I am fully aware of the facts the Deputy has outlined for me. I said in my answer I am aware of the statement in question referred to by the Deputy and that there is no foundation whatsoever to the statement. Furthermore, I said that funding for each VEC is made available on an annual basis by my Department.

Am I correct in saying that as of today £400,000 is due to County Donegal Vocational Education Committee for educational grants?

County Donegal Vocational Education Committee have a deficit which is a different matter——

If the Minister will listen to me——

I am answering the Deputy's question. County Donegal VEC have a deficit of £492,000. I am aware of that deficit. My Department will be in communication with County Donegal VEC with a view to elimination of the deficit from available resources over an agreed period of time.

My question did not relate to a deficit. I asked the Minister is £400,000 due to County Donegal VEC for educational grants as of today?

It is a different interpretation. My answer relates to a deficit.

The Minister wants to be impolite. She does not want to answer my question.