asked the Minister for Education if he will state the statute invoked in the laying down of rules for teacher training colleges as part of the rules and regulations for national schools.

Under the Ministers and Secretaries' Act, 1924, the functions and powers of the Commissioners of National Education were transferred to the Minister for Education. The transfer included the power to make rules and regulations.

Make rules and regulations for what?

All the powers that the commissioners had were transferred to the Minister for Education.

What powers have the commissioners got in relation to teacher training colleges? That is what the question concerns.

They had taken over the training college and had the right to make rules and regulations in relation to it.

Under what Act did they have that right?

The commissioners got their authority from an Order in Council and I am informed this had the full force of law.

Can the Minister give us details of the Order in Council?

I have not got those details.

It is a separate question. Question No. 39.

The Deputy can read up the Ministers and Secretaries' Act of 1924.

Does that Act contain the details?

No.

What, then, is the point in reading it? Could the Minister obtain the answer and let me have it in due course?

I have not got the details.

Will the Minister get it for me?

I do not know whether I can get it.

When was the Order in Council made?

I have not got that information. What I am referring to here are the powers that the Commissioners of National Education had. They took over St. Patrick's and other Training Colleges. It was recognised by them and they had powers to make rules and regulations for that college.

Is it not rather unusual for a Minister to be exercising powers and to tell the House that he does not know where these powers come from?

I explained to the Deputy that these powers were vested in the commissioners and transferred to me.

By virtue of an order.

Yes, and under the Ministers and Secretaries' Act of 1924 they were transferred to the Minister in relation to the training colleges.

The Minister is confusing the issue.

I am not confusing the issue but that is what the Deputy is trying to do.

I have called Question No. 39.

Under what authority were those rules for training colleges made if they were made by the commissioners?

The commissioners took over the training college and were entitled to make the rules and regulations in respect of it.

They had no authority to do so.

They acted on their own prerogative.