asked the Minister for Education to what extent teachers were consulted in the preparation of the papers for the recent primary leaving certificate examination.

asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the fact that apprenticeship to many skilled trades and crafts is conditional upon the applicant holding a primary leaving certificate, and having regard to the unusually high standard of this year's papers, he will take steps to ensure that future papers are prepared in consultation with teachers who will have due regard to the ability of the average pupil and the curriculum pursued.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Nos. 9 and 10 together.

The question papers set for the primary school certificate examination are prepared by inspectors of national schools, all of whom are in the closest touch with the work in these schools and are fully conversant with the general standard of attainment of the pupils in the curriculum followed therein.

I am satisfied that the standard of the question papers set for the primary school certificate examination in 1956 was reasonable and I do not consider that, in present circumstances, any alteration is feasible in the arrangements for the preparation of the question papers for this examination.

asked the Minister for Education if he has received any complaints with regard to the unprecedentedly difficult standard of this year's primary leaving certificate, and in particular in regard to the Irish paper, and if he will make a statement on the matter.

No complaints have been received in my Department with regard to the standard of the question papers set at the primary school certificate examination, 1956.

Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire. An bhfaca sé an páipear Gaeilge?

Cad chuige a bhfeicinn?

Cén fáth?

Tá dream daoine ceaptha chun an obair sin a dhéanamh agus ní ar an Aire ba cheart an dualgas a bheith.

Is uafásach an rud é.

An amhlaidh a cheapann an Teachta gur ormsa a bheadh an obair na ceisteanna atá sa pháipear sin a cheapadh?

Nach tusa an tAire Oideachais? Nach ar an Aire atá na páistí agus na tuismuitheoirí ag braith aire a thabhairt don na scrúdúcháin?

Ceist eile í sin.

Tá foireann cigirí sa Roinn chun aire a thabhairt don obair sin. Tá eolas ag na cigirí seo ar obair na scol i rith na bliana; tá baint acu leis na paistí agus leis na múinteoirí. Níor tháinig sé isteach im aigne ariamh go raibh cúram ar bith ormsa faoi na ceisteanna ba cheart bheith sa pháipéar.

Is íontach an rud é sin.

Ní thuigim cad tá ina aigne ag an dTeachta.

Ba cheart go mbeadh an t-Aire sásta faoi chaighdéan an scruduithe a cuirtear ar na páistí. Chonaic mé an páipéar seo i mbliana agus bhí sé uafásach.

Ó thoradh an scrúdúcháin i mbliana, anuraidh agus sa bhliain roimhe sin, tá mé sásta le caighdeán an scrúduithe. Ba mhaith liom go ndéanfadh an Teachta breithniú ar an gceist agus má tá aon rud fuinniúil, réasúnta le rá aige beidh áthas orm é a chloisint.