What wrong in the function(suggest me alternative also if any)

Hey please check out whats wrong in this function? what iwant is to check whetehr a table exists or not.I'm connected as user EXPLAIN goven DBA role.I want to fine that a table exitse in user ECALS or not???
It is working when i'm connected as ECALS.but when i connect as EXPLAIN it does not work.
help me out.

create or replace function check_for_table(t_name varchar2) return integer is
tname varchar2(20);
n integer;
cursor c is select table_name from sys.all_tables where table_name=t_name and owner='ECALS';
begin
n:=0;
dbms_output.put_line(t_name);
open c;
loop
dbms_output.put_line('hi1');
fetch c into tname;
exit when c%notfound;
n:=n+1;
dbms_output.put_line(tname);
end loop;
dbms_output.put_line('hi');
return(n);
exception
when others then
return(0);
end; Received on Fri Sep 21 2001 - 08:02:39 CEST