asked the Minister for Education the proposals, if any, his Department has for the encouragement of a more equitable social and economic balance in the recruitment of applicants to this country's medical schools.

Admission to the medical schools is conducted in accordance with the relevant published regulations made by the university or college authorities. In my Department's scheme of grants for eligible third-level students, provision is made under which an exceptionally high tuition fee element is payable in the case of medical students.

Do we take it that the Minister and his Department have no plans to communicate any concern to universities in relation to the matters raised in the question, and that they do not share any concern in relation to the question?

The Deputy would have to put down a separate question on that. That was not in the question.

With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I wish to have Question No. 44 postponed.

Question No. 44 postponed.