asked the Minister for Education if he will state, in relation to the committee set up to examine the problems arising in the transitional year from primary to secondary schools (i) the numbers and Departments represented on the committee (ii) the number of meetings held to date, and (iii) the proposals, if any that have been produced.

This committee is at present in the process of being established. Pending completion of the relevant procedures for its establishment I do not consider that it would be appropriate for me to make a statement in relation to its composition except to say that it would include representatives of the appropriate representative bodies.

I am sure the Minister agrees this is one of the key problem areas in the educational development area. Would he indicate when he expects he will be able to take positive action in this regard? Would he favour the reintroduction of a seventh class in primary schools and a basis for introduction to the second level area?

Invitations have gone out to the trade unions, the managerial bodies, and so on, involved. In fact, what the transfers committee will be studying is the curriculum for the final year in primary and the curriculum for the first year in post-primary to see how they can be related to each other so that the pupil leaving the child-centred primary and entering the subject-centred secondary will not be lost. That is a specific function of the committee.