asked the Minister for Education, arising from her statement on 22 October 1987, the plans, if any, she has to reduce all post-primary schools to a five year cycle; if so, when schools will be required to drop their sixth year; and if this includes all schools offering the transition year at present.

Circular Letter M85/85, which issued to post-primary schools in October, 1985, introduced the requirement that, with effect from the beginning of the 1986/87 school-year, the junior cycle be of three years' duration, and the leaving certificate course be of two years' duration in all schools. Schools which at that time were providing an authorised three-year leaving certificate course were permitted, however, to finish out that course for existing senior pupils. Schools which were then providing an authorised four-year junior cycle course were permitted to finish out that course for existing junior pupils up to the end of junior cycle.

Transition year programmes are sanctioned on an annual basis and are currently under review.

The Minister has answered that question in the same manner which she uses in any other discussion on this topic. Since the Minister announced in the Dáil on 22 October that in future all schools would have three years and two years, is that to apply from September 1988? In other words, are all second level schools to be reduced to five years from the next academic year?

The circular issued by Deputy Hussey, when Minister for Education, to post primary schools in October 1985 introduced the requirement that, with effect from the beginning of the 1986/87 school year the junior cycle was to be three years and the leaving certificate course was to be two years. A phasing out was permitted in the case of existing pupils in approximately 100 schools in which there had been a recognised four-year cycle and a small number with the recognised three-year senior cycle prior to September 1986. With regard to those schools, these courses will have finished after the 1988/89 school year. That will allow for the last phasing out of the follow through of the circular M85/85.

Question No. 66.

I have only asked one supplementary.

There are three remaining questions and only five minutes left. The Chair has an obligation to facilitate other Deputies also.

The Minister is refusing to answer the questions.

I am sorry but that is not the fault of the Chair. The Chair has no control over such matters.

May I ask a quick supplementary?

I want to deal within the prescribed time with your remaining question and with Question No. 67 in the name of Deputy Michael D. Higgins and Question No. 68 in the name of Deputy Maureen Quill.