An insider's guide to education...

Yes, there was one sad attempt to discredit the whole process, but no one was much impressed. The feeder lists are a valuable source of information for parents. That's why they're so popular with parents.

Amid the storm, one person emerged with his reputation greatly enhanced. John White, the ASTI boss (right), threw off his customary caution and went to the heart of the matter. Some schools under the aegis of the Conference of Religious in Ireland (CORI) are operating socially-divisive enrolment policies, he said. White was targeting some fee-paying schools which exclude the academically weak while lecturing the rest of us about social justice.

And the response thus far from CORI. Ah . . . silence.

But this issue is set to run and run. To her immense credit, Mary Hanafin is on the tail of these schools - and she wants to see real change.

There is a frisson in the relationship despite the fact that NEWB boss Eddie Ward is a a former Marlborough Street official. The board has done a good deal in a very short time. Now why is it unloved?

De Paor, son of venerable historian Liam, is a hugely respected figure who will help ASTI emerge from its current doldrums.

One person who is not happy is ex-president Bernadine O'Sullivan, who lost out. It is a bad blow for O'Sullivan, who will now have to concen- trate on the Senate election. Last time, she lost out to Joe O'Toole.

Only two problems: the Government has still to increase the number of medical places and UCD's plans have still to be approved by the Higher Education Authority.