is not ready to go on air.

The request has met with a hostile response from Rattlebag staff, who have pointed out that they have already been assigned to other radio shows from 1 September . . . the original date for the last Rattlebag programme. As a result, there are no workers available to do the show for the four weeks of September.

A compromise arrangement will now see the programme's presenter, Myles Dungan, present pre-recorded 'Best of Rattlebag' programmes throughout September, taking the radio afternoon schedule up to 4 October, when Mooney's new afternoon programme will finally go on air.

An RTE spokeswoman confirmed that RTE Radio will continue through September with what she described as "a celebration" of the past six years of Rattlebag. But she admitted that the repeats of the arts programme would "facilitate the phased roll-out of Mooney's afternoon programme" which will run from 3pm to 5pm every day. RTE insists on "top quality" from its programmes, she said, and while the Mooney programme is nearly ready, the extra month's preparation will ensure such quality.

Presenter Myles Dungan is currently recording the Rattlebag highlights programmes, the first of which will go out on Monday 4 September. The show is currently being presented by playwright, Vincent Woods, who will continue with the show until the end of next week. Dungan will return on Monday 28 August to present the last week of the 'live' programme before the repeats begin.

It is understood that Dungan, who is due to complete a Fulbright scholarship in the United States after Christmas, turned down the offer to present Rattlebag's direct replacement . . . The Eleventh Hour . . .

which will go out at 11pm each night, a time when radio listnership drops sharply.

Instead, RTE's new arts programme will be presented by writer, director and founder of the Galway-based Macnas street-theatre group, Padraic Breathnach.

Meanwhile, as the arts community remains incensed over Leddy's decision to drop Rattlebag, Minister for Arts, Sports and Tourism John O'Donoghue is being lined up to do an indepth interview on the show this Friday.

O'Donoghue will participate in the traditional Rattlebag Friday interview with a wellknown person who selects songs or poems that mean something to them personally.

It is understood that the minister will make some comment on the demise of the popular arts programme. O'Donoghue has already sent a letter into RTE criticising its decision to drop Rattlebag.