Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to come before the House as a matter of urgency to discuss the review of the education network prepared by the Centre of Management and Organisation Development which recommends the closure of nine part-time education centres and three full-time centres? This will have a massive effect on some 3,900 schools, both primary and post-primary, and is certainly a retrograde step. It is a further example of severe cutbacks in education by the Government. Carlow in my constituency will have no part-time education centre and Kildare education centre will be closed while the Kilkenny centre will no longer be full time. This will have a severe effect on the south east.