asked the Minister for Education if the Maynooth, County Kildare secondary top school will be retained; and what the post-primary plans for the area are.

There are no plans for the closing in the near future of the secondary top for boys in Maynooth. As however, facilities for post-primary education for girls are not available in the centre, it would seem that in the long term the educational interests of all the pupils of the area would best be served by providing free transport to the schools in Lucan and in Kilcock.

Would the Minister say, if he has come to that conclusion, why he would not see the deputation from the parents' association which requested an interview with him?

Is the Deputy suggesting I refused?

Yes, by letter to me signed by the Minister in his own handwriting.

Was that a letter in which I said I did not think any useful purpose would be served——

No. That is not what the Minister said.

I am sorry about that. I shall be glad to see them.

Will the Minister now see the deputation?

Yes, I will.

There is another example of a Minister changing his mind, acting reasonably.

The point is that in my reply to Deputy Sweetman, I might have been acting reasonably.

The Minister is acting more reasonably now.

Yes. He has agreed to see them and I shall not say what rises to my tongue; one was just before and the other was just after the elections.

One further conversion of a most dramatic kind, and within the past ten minutes.