asked the Minister for Education whether he has any plans for the recommencement of parent-teacher meetings in voluntary secondary schools; and, if so, if he will give details.

The making of arrangements for parent-teacher meetings in the case of an individual secondary school is primarily a matter for the managerial authority and staff of the school concerned. My Department do not prescribe any regulations in this regard and I have no proposal under consideration at present in this respect.

Does the Minister consider parent-teacher meetings to be important? If so, is he giving any consideration to encouraging such meetings?

As I indicated in the House yesterday and outside the House on a number of occasions in the short period since I took office, I am interested in encouraging the participation of parents in school activities and in educational activities generally. However as I indicated in my reply, I do not have any firm proposals to offer at this stage.

Has the Minister any proposals of any nature, firm or otherwise?

I am sure the Deputy will agree that these are relatively early days yet. While I have had preliminary discussions with some of the relevant parties, I am not yet in a position to offer what I would regard as substantive proposals.