asked the Minister for Education if he will outline his plans for the use of the punt symbol IR£ in the Intermediate and Leaving certificate examination papers.

The need for a distinctive symbol for Irish currency does not arise, in general, in the case of questions on the certificate examination papers. Where it is necessary to make a distinction the symbol IR£ will be used to denote Irish currency.

Is the Minister not aware that the publishers of educational textbooks have been considerably confused and alarmed by the fact that the Department of Education examination papers use the unadorned £ symbol which is in fact a reference to a foreign currency and that, as a result, they need firm and unambiguous guidance from the Department about the adoption of a standard practice which will have our own currency featuring on our examination papers and textbooks?

I assure the Deputy there will be no possibility of any student being at a disadvantage by reason of the method used for setting examination questions.

Is the Minister aware that whatever about the pupils, the publishers will not accept his bland assurance that there is no problem?

I am not here to defend the publishers.

They are looking for clear guidance from the Minister as to the practice he intends to adopt in relation to examination papers and the sterling or Irish pound symbol. The absence of such clear guidance will inevitably lead to confusion and the students will be the sufferers.

If the publishers have problems my door is open to them.