asked the Minister for Education whether the honours Bachelor of Education degree examination for trainee teachers will be held in June or in the autumn.

18.

asked the Minister for Education whether the candidates for the Bachelor of Education honours degree recently sanctioned by the National University of Ireland will qualify for honours on the common papers or whether there will be specifically honours papers.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together.

These matters are primarily the concern of the colleges of education and of the universities. I understand that the position in the case of colleges recognised by the National University of Ireland is that the final examination, pass and honours, will be held in June and that it will be on the basis of common papers.

19.

asked the Minister for Education whether the honours Bachelor of Education degree recently sanctioned by the National University of Ireland will attract an honours degree increment.

The Deputy is presumably referring to the allowance payable for first or second honours in a primary degree award. The question as to whether such an allowance will arise in connection with the Bachelor of Education degree will be considered in due course when the position in relation to awards of that degree has been formally indicated.

Would it not seem that the just thing to do would be to make the decision in view of the fact that it is to be a recognised honours university degree?

As soon as the Department are formally notified by the universities and colleges of the degrees they are awarding and when they are awarding them we will make the announcement.