asked the Minister for Education if in view of the increased cost of living in the last few years he will abolish the registration year for secondary teachers.

The requirement of a year of experience for registration purposes is prescribed in the regulations of the Secondary Teachers Registration Council, which is a statutory body. A resolution duly passed at a meeting of the Council would be necessary for the alteration of any of its regulations.

It is my opinion that secondary teachers should not have to do this registration year.

Is the Deputy asking a question?

I am just putting a suggestion to the Minister.

The Deputy may not do so. He must ask a direct question.

I am asking him to explain how it is that a vocational teacher, a national teacher, or a teacher in these new schools being built has not to do a registration year. National teachers can go on their respective salary scales from the first year but secondary teachers have to do a registration year. I do not think it is fair to the individuals concerned or their parents who have to pay so much to send them to college so that they can acquire the necessary degrees to enable them to embark on their careers as teachers. Does the Minister intend to do anything about it in the near future?

All I can say is that I am examining the position at the present time. I have been doing so for some time.

Is it the intention of the Minister to rectify this anomalous position?

I have not come to any decision. I am examining the pros and cons, the merits and demerits, and comparing them with what obtains in the other branches of the teaching profession.

Would the Minister not agree these teachers are being victimised by comparison with teachers in national, vocational and the new comprehensive schools?

That is a very sweeping suggestion which I should not like to deal with here in reply to a supplementary question, to which I should not like to say yes or no.

Does the Minister agree that they have to do the Higher Diploma in Education and that during that year also they must put in a certain number of hours teaching and that after that there should be no such thing as a registration year?

This is the same question put differently.

Maybe I will do away with the Higher Diploma.

What I want the Minister to do is to get rid of the registration year and I hope he will do it.

Question No. 136 postponed.