asked the Minister for Education the number of post-primary schools which will be initiating a transition year commencing in September 1986; and the plans, if any, he and his Department have formulated in order to enable these schools to pursue these initiatives satisfactorily.

As the processing of applications from schools wishing to initiate a transition year programme in September 1986 has not yet been completed within my Department, it is not possible at this point in time to state the number that will be approved.

The progress of these programmes where approved will be monitored by my Department's inspectorate during the 1986-87 school year. It is also intended to organise in-service courses for the teachers involved.

Will the Minister accept that the notice given to the schools in the circular issued to them was very short? Will he consider giving a further extension or will he issue a new circular? At Question Time about six weeks ago I tabled a question to the Minister to which I did not receive a satisfactory answer. I asked what resources and plans, if any, the Department have formulated to enable schools to pursue these initiatives satisfactorily. With regard to schools that put forward their applications and which were deemed to be in order, I wish to know the number of extra teachers the Department will allocate to the schools interested in initiating the transition year.

With regard to the first part of the Deputy's supplementary, to some extent the timetable was as a result of the date of the publication of the document from the Curriculum and Examinations Board on the transition year. That was published in January and the circular letter was issued on 31 January asking for programmes to be in by 1 March. I take the point made by the Deputy that the time was possibly a little short and I will examine the matter to see if the time can be extended. However, having regard to the fairly lengthy examination that has to take place on the proposal and bearing in mind that this is a new development, it might not be feasible this year to extend the closing date. We may stick with what we have this year and by next year we will have learned quite a lot. I am advised that extra teachers will not be needed. Should there be a demand for extra teachers that will not arise until the third year the scheme is in operation. This year will not mean there will be extra pupils in the total number in a school because the pupils are in a transition year class. When the pupils go into sixth year, instead of having left school in the fifth year if the transition year had not been interposed in the meantime, then there will be extra pupils in the school but that bulge will not emerge for another few years. There will be no difficulty with regard to resources in the current year.

I must take issue with the Minister on that point. It bears out what I thought about the announcement made prior to the local elections last year. My statement is that it was hastily announced for the local elections——

The Deputy may not make a statement at Question Time.

It was poorly researched. I must cavil at the Minister's answer that there will not be need for extra teachers. If a school initiates a transition year there will be extra pupils in that class and teachers must be provided. What provision will the Department make? There will be need in a school for a teacher to resume responsibility for the operations and the plans——

The Deputy is making a speech.

No, I am asking a question.

The Deputy need not get excited. Obviously she is making a statement.

I am asking a question. I wish to know from the Minister what plans he and his Department have made with regard to teachers. What plans have been made with regard to the allocation of special duties to a teacher in a school to supervise and arrange the plans for the transition year? I wish to know what plans the Department have made to allocate funds for the smooth running of the transition year. In view of the poor arrangements that have been made, is the Minister satisfied that a sufficient number of schools will be able to take up what I consider would be a very worthy initiative if it were properly arranged, researched and resourced?

I was hoping the Deputy's compliment with regard to the initiative could have been left without being lessened by a complaint about the mechanisms for introducing it. I think the Deputy exaggerates the resources problem. There will not be extra pupils in a school as a result of this proposal. Some of the pupils in a particular year will go into a transition year class and it will be a matter for the school to rearrange its quota of teachers to deal with the new transition year. We must bear in mind that the schools who have applied to participate in the transition year are schools that are satisfied they have the competence to provide the transition year. In addition, they will have the assistance of the Department in working out the composition of the transition year. Part of our assessment at the moment is reviewing replies from the schools concerned to a fairly comprehensive list of questions concerning their proposals. Between the resources and expertise of the Department and of the schools we hope for this year to get this worthwhile initiative under way. We do not anticipate any difficulty with resources because the number of students being dealt with in a school by the quota of teachers allocated to that school will be the same as last year. It is a matter for the school concerned to rearrange the allocation of teaching duties for the transition year. I assume that schools will not apply to participate in the transition year unless they are prepared to make such reallocation and redeployment of their resources. Every assistance from the Department will be available to them.

Naturally schools applied when the circular was issued to them because they were anxious to do it for their students. If difficulties arise in isolated or in several schools in relation to the successful implementation and operation of the transition year with regard to the allocation of teachers or resources, will the Minister allocate the resources necessary?

No. The operation of the transition year will be so arranged, in consultation with my Department, that the difficulties anticipated by the Deputy will not arise.