asked the Minister for Education how much money has been saved by his Department by the closing down of the four Preparatory Colleges (a) in the current year and (b) in estimated expenditure for the coming year.

36.

asked the Minister for Education if he will estimate how much per year will be saved in the expenditure of his Department through the closing of the Preparatory Colleges when all the present students have completed their courses.

A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission, I propose to take questions No. 35 and No. 36 together. As four of the five preparatory colleges which will close down at the end of the 1960-61 school year will open as Class A secondary schools, as from the beginning of the 1961-62 school year they will involve the payment of capitation grants and teachers' incremental salaries to the extent warranted by the number of pupils in attendance. In the circumstances, it is not possible to say what money may be saved by my Department (1) in the current financial year or (2) in the next financial year or (3) when all the present students have completed their courses.

There will be a saving in any case?

There could very likely be.

There may or may not.