asked the Minister for Education whether he will cancel the instruction to VECs to increase certain fees by 25 per cent and 10 per cent.

25.

asked the Minister for Education if he will review his instruction to the VECs to increase certain fees; if he is aware of the concern of the VECs concerning the implications of this instruction particularly in regard to arrangements made prior to it.

26.

asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that his direction to increase fees in the non-university institutions was too late for those educational institutions to implement and if he now intends to withdraw that directive.

With the permission, of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos 24 to 26, inclusive, together.

I am satisfied that, having regard to the relatively low level of fees in general in regional technical colleges and corresponding educational institutions, a percentage increase in the fees as specified in circular letter no. 34/79 from my Department was fully warranted.

I see no reason for a review of the instruction as conveyed to vocational education committees in this matter.

Will the Minister agree that this fee increase is regressive and that it bears equally on those who can afford to pay and those who cannot afford to pay the increase? Will the Minister indicate what, if anything, he proposes to do about local authorities who have the guts to refuse to implement his instruction?

I would not accept that the decision was regressive. I should like very much if everything could be free—the Ritz is open to everyone. The increase was a modest one.

Twenty five per cent, in keeping with inflation.

It was 25 per cent on a low level.

Not necessarily.

It is low in Fianna Fáil terms.

The number of vocational education committee scholarships have increased substantially and this in aid of that sector.

Is the Minister aware that his letter demanding an increase of 25 per cent from new students was sent to the various committees on either the last day of July or the first day of August 1979?

The last day in August the Deputy said the last time.

I think it was the last day in July.

It was July.

The traditional day for sending out bad news.

The earliest date on which most committees could consider that letter was either mid-August or at the first meeting in September. Is the Minister aware that the boards of management in regional colleges determine the level of their fees at their February meeting in order to have the syllabus and prospectus for the various courses published? Is he further aware that applicants for courses are processed by the end of July or certainly by the time the letter was considered in September? These boards of management had a legal commitment to the students on the basis of their published prospectus. Would the Minister not consider that any indication in relation to increases in fees should go out around March if it is to be effective? In the obvious circumstances in which many boards of management found themselves, will the Minister withdraw that letter in view of the fact that many boards have rejected it on quasi-legal or legal grounds?

I would not accept that the 10 per cent increase in fees on a low level for existing students and 25 per cent for new students was excessive. The vast majority of the committees accepted this and must not have feared that there was any legal difficulty involved. The committees are experienced committees and know what they are doing. If they do it they would not be doing it in contravention of any legal contractual provision.

On the basis of commonsense, if the Government wish to have an increase in fees at whatever level—the public can adjudicate on the wisdom or otherwise of that—the intention to seek an increase should be indicated to the committees and boards of management early in the year around March rather than waiting until August when people are on holidays and when such a circular would not be considered until early September. Is the Minister aware that there is an obligation on the committees and boards to plan forward and settle fee structures? In those circumstances, if the Government and Minister wish to have an increase in fees, they should be communicated earlier in the year than his last circular was.

I am satisfied in the circumstances obtaining that the circular letter went out as soon as it could. It did not in any way inhibit committees from increasing fees by and large.

Some committees did——

I take the Deputy's point that the earlier we can have such circulars out the better but circumstances do not always permit that.

Can the Minister tell us whether the committees can expect more bad news next year in relation to fees?

I am not in the prophecy business.

The Minister must know.

We have over-laboured this question. The Deputy does not know when to sit down when he gets to his feet.