asked the Minister for Education the terms of any direction addressed to vocational education committees in 1979 prohibiting those committees from making any offer to the unions and, in particular, the provision of Direction No. 20/1979.
Written Answers. - Directions to VECs.
490.
During 1979, the Department requested vocational education committees to ensure that, in accordance with standing arrangements, no increases in pay or improvements in conditions of employment or perquisites of any kind—other than the increases set out in clause 2.1 of the National Agreement on Pay Policy—are offered, or commitments thereon entered into without first having consulted with and obtained the consent of the Department.
The Department's circular letters which relate to this matter are Circular Letters Nos. 47/79, 26/79, 51/79 and 19/79.
Circular Letter No. 20/79 refers to "Scholarships to Germany" and does not, therefore, relate to the subject mentioned in the first part of the question.