asked the Minister for Education the additional number of secondary and vocational school teaching posts applied for in respect of the coming school year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching Posts.
20.
The additional numbers of secondary and vocational school teacher posts applied for and sanctioned, to date, for the coming school year are as follows:—applied for:— 790 secondary, 458 vocational; sanctioned:—497 secondary, 257 vocational.
Is the Minister aware of any complaints by local authorities that they have, in fact, been unable to hire extra staff because of shortage of funds?
I am aware that there have been appeals from vocational education committees. These are being examined.
But is the Minister aware that the shortage of staff in several vocational schools is directly attributable, or so the committees claim, to shortage of cash from central funds?
I do not accept that. As I said on a number of occasions, where appeals are made by vocational education committees for extra staff they are examined on their merits; where they are justified, we accept them, and, where they are not justified, we do not accept them.