Eamonn Maloney (Dublin South West, Labour)

Like others, I acknowledge the announcement on the long-sought abolition of prefabricated classrooms. There has been significant discussion on this in the House - long before I was here - and promises upon promises were made, but it took this Government and Minister to deliver. They said less than a year ago that there would be a move on this and I commend the Minister on the level of the allocation to replace prefabs with proper accommodation.

I wish to declare my support for the amendment to the Bill. I intend to focus on section 7, but before doing that wish to refer to the mention by previous contributors of the abolition of the educational disadvantage committee. In principle, I have no great difficulty in agreeing to that. I want to acknowledge the work the committee did in the past, particularly at the beginning of the process of bringing about the DEIS system.

In his speech last night, the Minister referred to a fine report, Moving Beyond Educational Disadvantage, which was published by the committee in 2005. Essentially, it put up the pillars that were used to develop the DEIS scheme. It would not have happened as it did if that report had not been published. The people who worked on the committee should be acknowledged. I know that, in the past, the Minister has complimented the work of the committee in targeting educational disadvantage in working class areas. I note his commitment to refer to the report in the future.

Many of us have large numbers of DEIS schools in our constituencies. My constituency has 19 such schools, which is the second or third highest number of any constituency. They are very fine schools. The Minister and the Government said they would protect DEIS schools. I have not had an opportunity to acknowledge before now that such schools have been protected. Like others, I recognise that remarkable progress that has been made in DEIS schools. It is slow but it is very definite. Most of us are familiar with the report that came out last January. It praised the work that is taking place in DEIS schools.

I do not wish to ruffle the feathers of schoolteachers. I am sure they constitute a fine body of people. I always think they are like politicians, plumbers or any other group in the sense that some of them are very good and others are not so good. I would like to say, without being biased, that some of the principals and teachers in DEIS schools are the finest people in the education sector. They are working against the tide. It is the most difficult environment to be teaching in. They deserve great praise.

This morning, I attended the opening of a library at Holy Rosary Primary School, which is in my constituency. The library was opened by the President, Michael D. Higgins. It is interesting that it was opened today. Reference has been made to DEIS schools. The library in question, which is a fine one, is in a large converted prefab. It did not cost us anything as taxpayers because the parents in the area of this DEIS school organised the building, painting and stocking of the library. That was done in conjunction with South Dublin County Council's county library, which is the finest library in the country. It is remarkable.

It is worth mentioning in that context that we are having this debate on World Book Day. That was not lost on the President, who tried to persuade the children of the value and importance of reading, particularly at an early age. Unfortunately, most working class children are reluctant to accept such encouragement. I was guilty of that in the past. It is great that we are concluding our Second Stage discussion on this legislation on World Book Day. I will conclude by restating my support for the amendments that are being made in this Bill.

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