Michael McCarthy (Labour)

Will the Leader arrange for the Minster for Education and Science to come before the House for a debate on the schools building programme? A worrying article in today's edition of The Irish Times lists a number of schools that are in a substandard condition, which is not acceptable. Development projects for the schools in question are all at the tendering stage and, given that there was a 4% reduction in expenditure in the area in the Estimates, I appeal to the Leader to allow the Minister to discuss the matter with Members.