asked the Minister for Education if he will state, in relation to Maria Assumpta school, Gardiner Street; Dominican College, Eccles Street; and Holy Faith school, Dominick Street, whether the schools in question are considered by his inspectorate to be providing a satisfactory standard of education.

The answer is in the affirmative.

Will the Minister take this into consideration when dealing with any request or notification from the authorities of the schools concerned in relation to the possible closure of the schools? Does he not think it extraordinary that schools which are reaching the standard sought by the Department are now closing down?

I should like the Deputy to repeat the words in the middle of his question about requests to close down—is that what the Deputy said?

Notifications or requests.

I personally regret that any school, which I think when it has been a certain length of time in existence develops its own geist or spirit, should die. I am on record on that and I have also said it to the authorities of the one school with which I was in consultation. One of the schools had already given notice to the Department several years ago that it was closing down. This having been said and having stated that the standards are high in the schools concerned, I must repeat that I have no power in the matter in regard to the closing down of the schools. I hope that some of the schools that indicated they were closing have not taken a final decision on the matter. I would also hope that they would be conscious of their obligations to both pupils and staffs.

Is the Minister aware of the difference between a school dying and a viable school being killed?

That is a separate question.

Has the Minister himself knowledge of any other proposals which have not been made public so far to close schools such as this?

I have not any such knowledge. There was a reference on the last occasion to fee-paying schools. I presume the Deputy is not referring to these. I think it was Deputy Keating who referred on the last occasion to fee-paying schools closing down, that is fee-paying primary schools, and I have no function in regard to such schools.

Would the Minister not accept that all schools have an impact on the educational environment of our city, for example, and that therefore they are reasonably within the parameters of his Department to be interested in and have knowledge about? Is not that a reasonable proposition?

These questions do not arise out of the original question.

13.