asked the Minister for Education if he will consider the use of school buses, which are idle during the summer, by local youth groups during that period.

The use of school buses for school-related physical education activities was approved by my Department some time ago but the scheme was not introduced because of difficulties which CIE have had with the trade unions concerned. The proposal in the Fianna Fáil Election Manifesto that school buses be used for extra mural and after school activities is at present being examined in my Department in consultation with CIE.

What is the purpose of the present examination? Is the Minister having second thoughts about the idea?

I am not having second thoughts, but in so far as it was a promise which we made in our election manifesto I am pursuing the matter in order to satisfy that promise as we have in every other area in which we made promises.