asked the Minister for Education if she has as yet made a favourable decision on the submission made by the Finglas Association for Mature Student Education, Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

I carefully considered the submission made by the Finglas Association for Mature Student Education. A reply has been issued to the association explaining the position in regard to (i) the question of fees for students at the leaving certificate examination, and (ii) the question of accommodation for the association.

Would the Minister care to advise me on the position?

On the question of accommodation, the reply pointed out that only the managerial authorities of the schools in the area could deal with that matter. As I said in relation to the previous question a moment ago, it is not the function of the Minister to supply premises for adult education. With regard to fees, the fee for the leaving certificate examination is £30 per student for school candidates and £30 per subject for external candidates. There are reasons for the difference. One is that a special examination centre has to be established to cater for external students and unit costs are likely to be considerably higher than for regular school-based centres. In the reply I said I would look at the position regarding the charges for external candidates in respect of future examinations.