320 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will arrange with Teagasc for the appointment of an adviser on nursery stocks and amenity matters to operators of garden centres on a regional basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22709/96]

The deployment of existing staff within Teagasc is a matter for the body itself. Any proposal by Teagasc to appoint new staff is subject to Government policy on public sector recruitment.