asked the Minister for Education if he will list the papers in which advertisements were placed inviting submissions from interested parties in the matter of the proposed White Paper on Education, the dates of each advertisement and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Advertisements were not placed in the public press for this purpose. Instead, letters inviting submissions were sent to all relevant educational interests. A list of these interests is, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, being circulated for inclusion in the Official Report.

List of Organisations Invited to Send Submissions

Irish National Teachers' Organisation, Cumann na nGairm Mhúinteoiri, Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland, Irish Vocational Education Association, Association of Vocational Education Committees, Joint Managerial Body, Teaching Brothers Association (Primary and Secondary), Conference of Convent Secondary Schools, Irish School Masters Association, The Association of Irish Headmistresses, Secretariat of Secondary Schools, Association of Presbyterian Managers, The Methodist Board of Education, Association of Principals and Vice Principals of Community and Comprehensive Schools, Catholic Headmasters Association, Association of Guidance Teachers, Catholic Primary School Managers Association, Conference of Convent Primary Schools, Association of Church of Ireland National School Managers, Coláiste Oideachais Naomh Pádraig, Drumconnrach, Coláiste Oideachais Mhuire gan Smál, Luimneach, Coláiste Oideachais, Bhantiarna na Trócaire, Carysfort, Coláiste Oideachais Eaglais na hÉireann, Coláiste Oideachais Thomond, Luimneach, St. Catherine's College of Home Economics, Higher Education Authority, National Federation of Christian Brothers Schools, Congress of Catholic Secondary Schools Parents Associations Gaelscoileanna, Union of Students in Ireland.

Would the Minister not agree that any Minister preparing a White Paper on any matter would place an advertisement in the national papers inviting views? While I accept that he may have written to his known interest groups, there are many private citizens of this State, as well as other groups, who may not be known to him, who would like to have an input into the White Paper? I am not speaking of groups directly involved in education but the other social groups who might have an input for the White Paper. Does the Minister feel, in view of the fact that no advertisement was placed, that the White Paper may be lacking in input from the socio-educational sector?

I accept the thesis of the Deputy that everybody is interested in education. The groups to whom I wrote responded with very good submissions. We have had submissions from private citizens who are interested in education. There was hardly anybody in the country who did not know that there was a White Paper in preparation. It was promised in the Fianna Fáil manifesto.

Everybody did not read that fully.

We will not go into that. The diligent questioning of the Deputies opposite brought it to the attention of the public and we have had a very good spread of submissions from the public.

Did all the organisations the Minister invited to make submissions submit them?

Yes, as far as I know.