asked the Minister for Education the dates, if any, in 1977, 1978 and 1979 on which he received written requests from the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee to meet a deputation to discuss the question of third-level status of the School of Art, Dún Laoghaire; and when he proposes to meet the committee.

I received letters dated 15 November 1978 and 15 January 1979 from the Borough of Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee requesting a meeting to discuss the present situation and the future prospects of the Dún Laoghaire Art School. I had previously met a deputation on behalf of the Art School on 11 May 1978 and had subsequently sanctioned additional expenditure and staffing for the current school year.

It is my intention to meet a further deputation from the committee as soon as possible.

Would the Minister agree that, while last May he met an informal group of parents and two public representatives, he did not meet any deputation from the committee itself? Would the Minister agree that he should now meet an actual deputation from the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee?

I said in the last sentence of my reply that it is my intention to meet a further deputation from the committee as soon as possible.

Would the Minister agree that he has not met a deputation from the committee either in 1977, 1978 or 1979?

I hope the Deputy does not refer to the meeting as informal because he was not on the deputation as were two other public representatives.

Has the Minister yet received any indication from the HEA, to whom I understand he referred this matter last June, as to the third-level status of this school of art?

I think another question has been put down on this matter, though I am not sure whether it is for written or oral answer. If the Deputy heard an earlier reply, he would know that all third-level education is being asssessed for me by the HEA and they have employed a specialist to do this. The Dún Laoghaire Art School will come under that study and I expect a report on it.

Would the Minister agree that responsibility for determining whether or not we are to have a third-level college of art in Dún Laoghaire rests in the first instance on the recommendations of the HEA and, secondly, with the departmental decision thereon and not, as has been suggested, with the Dún Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee?

I agree. I am sure the Deputy appreciates the considerable sustenance I gave them last May and also the initiative I took with the NCEA to ensure that their courses would be validated.

19.