asked the Minister for Education if the advisory council on post-primary education in Dublin have considered the situation arising from the projected or possible closure of three centre city schools; and the advice they have given him on this matter.

Information in relation to the possible closure of two of three schools to which the Deputy may be referring has become available only subsequent to the date of the last meeting of the Dublin Advisory Council on 17 January 1978. In the circumstances any matters of relevance which might arise for consideration could not have been discussed by the council at that meeting in relation to the possible closure of those two schools.

The Department of Education were advised in October 1975 of the proposed closing of the Sisters of Charity school, Gardiner Street, on a phased basis over the period to 30 June 1979. In the circumstances of the time this decision did not cause any undue difficulty in relation to the provision of suitable alternative accommodation for pupils who might otherwise have gone to that school. Accordingly, it would not have been necessary to have the matter considered specifically by the advisory council.

Is the Minister aware that in the case of one of the three schools we have been talking about——

Which one?

The Dominican Convent, Eccles Street, which is a case of projected closure, one of the persons directly concerned in the government of that school is a member of the advisory council on post primary education? Would the Minister consider whether a conflict of interest might not possibly arise in this case?

I think the advisory council will be meeting soon and this matter will be discussed then. I am glad the Deputy used the form of words he did when he said that a final decision had not been taken to close that school.

I asked the Minister about a possible conflict of interest relating to one of the members of the advisory council on post primary education and would he agree that such a possibility exists?

I could not agree it exists without knowing to whom the Deputy is referring. The only way a conflict of interest could exist between someone acting in an advisory capacity with regard to schools would be if a monetary interest were involved and I do not think this could be maintained in this situation. I am a little at a loss to know to what the Deputy is referring.