Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is ten years in the making. Is there a back-up plan? The HSE recently sold a huge tract of land in Enniscorthy at the old St. Senan's Hospital. I believe it is more than 40 acres. They sold it to a private developer for peanuts. Why did the State not look at that? Will the Minister of State find out for me if the HSE deal was done with NAMA or was it done with the vulture fund? Who gazumped them? Was it NAMA or was it a vulture fund? They paid a deposit. The second contract was not signed, but a deal was done. Were they gazumped by NAMA or a vulture fund?

I remind the Minister of State that the numbers of students from Wexford who go to third level education is falling and is getting worse. The area is the second worst county in Ireland in educational performance. It is a black spot. Some weeks ago the Central Statistics Office released figures that show Wexford and Longford - areas of huge disadvantage - at the bottom of the table. Just 32% of second level students go on to third level, which is a long way behind the national average of 42%. The Minister of State is aware that in her own constituency the figure is about 61%. Something has to be done.

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