asked the Minister for Education if, in view of the recent protest by the president of the ASTI, and in equity, he is prepared to ensure that at least equal representation be given to teachers and parents with the nominees of the religious orders in secondary schools.

15.

asked the Minister for Education if he will make a statement on the threatened problems arising out of the conflict over the composition of the secondary schools' boards of management; and the steps he proposes to take in the dispute.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together.

The rules under which official recognition is awarded to secondary schools do not require the appointment of boards of management to the schools. The question of the composition of such boards where they are established is accordingly one for the authorities of the schools in the first instance.

Has the Minister any influence or authority to intervene and, if he had authority, would he be in agreement with a more reasonable representation of the teachers on these boards?

My own policy is that we should like to see the teachers represented on the school boards.

Is there anything the Minister can do?

There is. I am sure we can advocate that this be so. But, as I said in the first instance, the question is not one for the Minister.

I assume the Minister would be behind the teachers.

Very much so.

Will the Minister accept that there is a very significant difference between Question No. 14 and Question No. 15? I do not believe that the Minister's reply does answer Question No. 15, which does not concern itself with representation but with the problems arising out of recent conflict. Is not the Minister's reference to this as a problem for the authorities involved a negation of his own responsibilities to both teachers and parents because of the implications for salaries and the possible closure of the schools? It is not good enough to fob this off as being an internal dispute.

I have no intention of abdicating any responsibilities I may have. Regarding threatened problems, I consider I have enough real problems without beginning to deal with threatened ones.

This is a matter of vital interest. The Minister must be more forthcoming.

I am calling the next question.