asked the Minister for the Environment if he has any plans to eliminate and relieve local authorities of loan charges for vocational educational superannuation in view of the severe financial problems of local authorities.

Local authority contributions to loan charges for VEC purposes were discontinued earlier this year under the arrangements provided for in the Local Loans Fund Act, 1987. My Department, in consultation with the Department of Education, are examining the possibility of eliminating the remaining local authority payments towards vocational education costs including costs relating to superannuation.

Can the Minister give us any indication as to when that review will be completed and when the good news which will no doubt emanate from the review will be communicated to the cash starved local authorities?

All I can say is that the Deputy is pushing an open door. The negotiations are taking place at this time and I hope we can settle the matter in such a way that there will be a disengagement by the local authorities from these charges.

I thank the Minister for his reply but perhaps he might answer my question — when is this going to be accomplished?

If the negotiations had been completed it would be unnecessary to ask that question. Because the negotiations are still taking place how can I say when? It is my intention to finalise them as soon as possible because I support the ideas behind the question.