Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My concerns are about rural towns and counties. My daughter is the school principal in Myshall. That school did not make the panel so it, and other rural schools like it, must look for substitute teachers. A panel was not put in place for them and the Minister might look at that issue in the long term.

The Minister also spoke about the minor works programme. Her announcement that funding has doubled this year is very welcome but the bigger picture is important. An issue might arise when older schools get double the money but, as other speakers have said, have problems with water or old pipes.

The Minister needs to look at the minor works programme whereby new schools and old schools do not get the same allocation. She will be aware that it depends on how many students a school has and therefore a school with 300 pupils will get whatever amount is allocated. If an older school is getting that it is different. It is not as beneficial to the newer schools although I am aware that newer schools need works done too. Will the Minister look at setting up some other form of funding for older schools through the Department, whether it is through the minor works programme or whatever?

I will raise another issue because my slot will be gone quickly. I asked the Minister for Health last week about random testing in schools and he replied he did not think it will happen. Will it happen and is it something the Minister for Education and Skills is in favour of? Will the Minister look at saliva testing for children as it is said it is not as invasive as the other testing? Will the Minister come back to me with those two answers?

We have all been contacted this week by private bus and coach operators who could certainly do with the business. Has this been explored with the transport operators? We have received correspondence from many private operators and they need the business. Is there something we could do for them?