asked the Minister for Education if he proposes to review his decision to award diplomas rather than degrees to hotel management students completing their course this year in the Regional Technical College, Galway.

The position is that discussions are taking place between Galway Regional Technical College and University College, Galway, regarding the recognition of the course in hotel management as a degree course by the National University of Ireland. Pending the outcome of these discussions, the National Council for Educational Awards continue to assess the course.

When does the Parliamentary Secretary expect the discussions to end?

The information I have indicates that it is likely to be some months before a decision will be forthcoming.

Would the Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is only natural the students would be aggrieved, having expected to receive degrees instead of diplomas?

I am aware the students are concerned. The technical college authorities and UCG are parties to the discussions and this is known to both parties. I am sure they will bear the Deputy's point in mind during the discussions.

The Parliamentary Secretary spoke of months. Is that not a long time for discussions?

The Deputy will appreciate that a decision of this nature in relation to the granting of degree status is a far-reaching one of lasting consequence. Both UCG and the technical college will need to discuss this matter fully before a decision is reached.

Seeing that the Minister has gone back on a decision in regard to the universities, why not in regard to the NCEA?

At least on this matter.

Deputy Kitt rose.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary answer Deputy Wilson's question?

I gather that only one Deputy will be allowed to speak at one time.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary tell us if degrees will be awarded retrospectively?

The position in regard to degress and the awarding of them to these students is being considered in the negotiations and it will be the university that will be making the decision. The Government's decisions on these matters were made after due consideration and one of them was that degrees should be conferred henceforth by universities only.

Would the parliamentary Secretary agree——

A number of Deputies seem to be offering. We must have finality. I will hear Deputy MacSharry.

Are you refusing permission to the Parliamentary Secretary to answer Deputy Wilson?

I have done so.

I did not hear it.

Will the Parliamentary Secretary agree that the Department of Education were satisfied that this course was being run as a degree course?

This course was advertised as a four-year course and the statement was made that there would be an application for the granting of a BSc. degree. There was an application for recognition.

The final decision was with the NCEA.

My information is that there was an understanding it was a degree course. The Parliamentary Secretary has told Deputy MacSharry that is not so. The students now feel that technical education has been downgraded.

That is the point.

When the students commenced the course they were told they were doing a four-year course and that an application was being made for recognition of that course for degree purposes.

To whom?

To the NCEA.

Tell the truth.

Deputy MacSharry must allow the Parliamentary Secretary to reply.

You will not let me stand.

The Parliamentary Secretary.

The position is that in December, 1974 the Government made decisions in relation to higher education, one of which was to the effect that degrees should be conferred by universities only, and not by the NCEA. Subsequently, the NCEA on their own initiative made a decision that a degree should be granted but that was after the Government's decision that the NCEA did not have power to grant degrees.

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that when students were doing the examinations in June they were confronted with a paper which stated "BA in Hotel and Catering Management"?

The position is that that appears to have been put on top of the examination paper but it was not put there by the authority of the Minister for Education but by the college authorities on their own responsibility.

If it were done by the NCEA and by Strawberry Hill, the Minister will have to do it for these students.