asked the Minister for Education if she will use her good offices with the VEC to promote the extension of second level courses at Marino Vocational School, Dublin, to include the leaving certificate.

The City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee are the body responsible for the administration of vocational education in the city area. I would not consider it appropriate for me to act as suggested in the question from the Deputy.

I appeal to the Minister to use her good offices in this matter though I appreciate that the VEC are responsible for the administration of vocational education. Is the Minister aware that students attending this vocational school come from as far away as north County Dublin and others from Howth and Kilbarrack while post-intermediate certificate facilities are as far away as Beaumont? That is in line with the intention of the Department originally in the sixties but it is now proving most impractical for many of the students. If measures are not taken to extend the courses, at least 15 students who will be entering the post-intermediate certificate stream next summer will have to discontinue their second level education. In these circumstances would the Minister be prepared to make representations to the VEC to have the courses extended?

All I can say is that I am sure the Dublin VEC are very well aware of the position in this matter. There has been no application from the committee for a senior cycle at Marino school and I understand that the committee have no plans for such a school. Therefore, it is not open to the Department to take the action suggested by the Deputy.

If the committee——

The Deputy may not be satisfied with the answer he has been given but he has had a reply.

——should make such an application, would the Minister have any objection?

I would have no objection to their making an application.

Would the Minister have any objection to the granting of the extension of second level courses at this school?

That would have to be considered after the VEC had made the application.