asked the Minister for Education the number of students who during the academic years 1972-73 and 1973-74 attended courses leading to their candidatures for the leaving certificate which involved their attendance at both vocational and/or technical schools and also secondary schools.

Statistical returns are not made to my Department in relation to the schools in which candidates follow courses in particular subjects for the purpose of admission to the leaving certificate examination. The information requested by the Deputy is not, accordingly, available.

This again is a serious educational question. Is the Minister satisfied with the degree of mobility of pupils between what we call hand and eye schools, the vocational and technical schools, and the privileged secondary schools? Is he satisfied that the mobility originally envisaged in the comprehensive school scheme is being made available?

To the extent that our continuing efforts to achieve cooperation are visible to everybody, it could be taken that I am not.

Would the Minister like to comment on the fact that a pupil who has completed two years in what we might term an old seconddary school and who wishes to transfer to vocational education has usually to go back to square one and start at the first year in vocational education and that therefore the mobility we speak of is not very apparent?

If that is so, it is regrettable.

Would the Minister agree with the description by Deputy Thornley of vocational schools as hand and eye schools?

I am not called on to define them.

Question No. 7.

I hope the Minister would not agree with that description.

So do I.

I do not think that is a good description of them.