Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science to the House for a debate on education with regard to three aspects in particular. First, the Higher Education Authority advised the Government in the past month to introduce legislation to enable some universities to leave the State system and be privatised. The Government will have to consider this matter and a debate on the issue should take place in the House before the Government's views are cemented in some form or other.

Second, one of the innovations of recent years was the leaving certificate applied. However, there are reports that it is now under threat because the support the Government should be providing to ensure it works is not forthcoming. The Minister spoke about the matter in the other House the other day but it is something we should debate here soon.

Third, the Catholic Schools Parents' Association has reported that it is concerned that a number of schools charge fees for assessment, which is against Department rules, and that they continue to hold assessments for places even when those places do not exist. Parents are right to be upset about this as it is in breach of Department rules.