Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)

Clearly, many decisions are being made on the basis of how numbers and money add up. Unfortunately, life is not like that and there are many other factors to consider. Although it may seem rational to make these cuts on the basis of numbers and money, the impact these cuts will have on the community reduce the merit of what is being done. We have seen so much of this same thinking applied in Ireland in the past few years that it is frightening. Some of the first things to go from rural areas were the small shops, when the big shops were allowed swallow them up and they received no protection. Small pubs are disappearing and now we are closing post offices, Garda stations and nursing homes and we are likely to be left with a wasteland.

There is a need for positive action from the Government in order to preserve the sense of community in the countryside. Rural areas need help, rather than the sort of treatment they have been receiving. Not alone that, many of our small schools cater for minorities. We have, for example, 200 Protestant schools in this country. We like to pretend that we look after minorities well. I met people from the Old Borough national school in Swords outside the House today. I am sure that for these people to come from these schools to protest here disrupts their lives, but the Government needs to take on board how important these issues are to them and how they feel about how their children are being treated.

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