asked the Minister for Education the names and locations of all schools which he is aware are threatened with closure and/or are reported to be in financial difficulty; and the measures which he proposes to take to maintain and improve educational standards in their catchment areas.

I am not in a position to state the names and locations of any secondary schools the closure of which the authorities may have under consideration in advance of an announcement from the authorities of the school concerned in relation to the matter. The closure of schools is not necessarily related to the financial circumstances of the schools. It may be considered that the increase in the grant in lieu of tuition fees which was introduced with effect from 1 January last would serve to place secondary schools in a reasonably satisfactory financial situation.

Where a religious order cease their involvement in a particular school, suitable alternative arrangements are made for the continued education of the pupils concerned, either through the continuation of the school under a new management or the enrolment of the pupils of the area in other schools.

It may be anticipated that any such closures as may occur in the future will be on a suitably phased basis and I would also expect—and I emphasise this—that adequate prior notice should be given of their intentions by the conductors of the schools in all such cases.

Many Deputies are interested in this problem which arises from the growing, increasingly rapid failure of the religious orders to find members for the orders, priests rather than nuns, and is beginning to be a national trend and has reached crisis proportions. In these circumstances would the Minister not attempt to carry out some kind of national survey to find out the size of the problem and the alternative staffing and financial arrangements he is likely to have to make in the circumstances of what is becoming a serious situation?

I agree with Deputy Browne that the main reason for the problem is the diminishing numbers available in the orders for teaching purposes. Secondly, I want to assure the Deputy that as far as the Department are concerned we are committed to the provision of places in the various types of schools which I have already referred to in answer to a previous supplementary question. I have left instructions to have a letter written to the main bodies involved pointing out to them the serious problems that further closure announcements would create for my Department and if they have any intention to close that we should be given notice in good time.

Is it not true that there is some substance in Deputy's Keating's suggestion in regard to a drop of the hat of four or five years because it takes that period of time to plan. In the circumstances would the Minister not consider it a matter of extreme urgency that they are told they cannot close in less than a specific time such as five years or whatever it might take to provide an alternative school or alternative staffing for that school? The Minister is being faced practically with a fait accompli.

Deputy Keating might ask a question.

As implied in what has already been said, a five-year saving period being the normal run of the course does give some time to the Department to provide extra places. I would not panic about the thing. My only strong commitment is that the places will be provided in whatever type of school.

Deputy Keating.

What notice did the Minister get in relation to the closing of the Eccles Street school?

I am calling Deputy Keating.

I want to answer that question. There has as yet been no final decision to close the Eccles Street school.

I ask the Minister to accept my appreciation of the fact that he is undertaking this type of survey.

I did not say "survey"

Well, we will say tapping the opinion of principals, or whatever way he likes to put it.

It is more a strong letter saying that my Department find themselves compelled to write and say that we want to know what the situation is.

Last week the Minister did not appear to be too enthusiastic about the possibility of his Department approaching schools and education authorities with a view to getting them to do this.

Enthusiasm is my middle name.

I am pleased to see that the Minister has discovered it over the weekend.

But surveys are not my particular delight.