asked the Minister for Education why there is no representative of third-level technological education and in particular no representative of the NIHE, Limerick, on the working party which he appointed to draft legislative proposals for future third-level education.

I would refer the Deputy to my announcement of 23rd September, 1976, in which I stated the membership of the working party could be extended if found necessary. Representatives of the NIHE, Limerick, were present at the meeting of the working party on 5th November, 1976.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary referring to the last working party?

Yes.

Were these people third-level representatives generally or were they representatives from the NIHE in Limerick?

They were representatives of the NIHE, Limerick.

Will they be retained at future meetings of this working party?

I gather that this will depend to a certain extent on the matter being discussed—as to whether it is relevant to them in any way.

I thought that all third-level education was to be fused into one, that these old distinctions were to be abolished. Would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider this a desirable direction in which to move?

Even within the context of a unified system I understand there are certain matters which would have to be discussed by this committee and which would not be of any relevance to the NIHE. The consideration here is purely a practical one in the matter of reaching decisions with all the relevant interests present. I have no evidence to the effect that the NIHE representatives will be excluded from any discussions relevant to their future.

The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.