268 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the extreme shortage of administrative staff in Beaufort College, Navan, County Meath; and if so, the plans, if any, she has to remedy this situation. [21677/96]

This matter has not been drawn to my attention previously.

The allocation of clerical staff in the vocational education sector is made on a scheme wide basis and it is a matter for each vocational education committee to deploy sanctioned staff in the best manner possible to meet the needs of the committee and its schools. The Deputy will be aware that any case for an increase in staffing has to be approached in the context of Government policy on public service numbers.