Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

There are hundreds of students completing full term college courses who would not be there if they had not had the opportunity of the foundation course. It would be an interesting matter for the House to consider.

I thank Senator O'Toole for his kind remarks about Kilbeggan racecourse. I have told those responsible that he and Senator Glynn have been most assiduous in raising the issue. Senator O'Toole also requested that an appropriate Minister to come before the House to outline the terms of the all-party committee on the Constitution investigating the use of land. Such a debate would serve us well. The Senator's final point related to the gruesome events of the weekend concerning the double agent codenamed Stakeknife.

Senator Tuffy raised the recently published figures on homelessness. I know that she is a member of the all-party committee on the Constitution charged with considering land ownership. She said that the Government should invest the necessary money now, but it is clear that the withholding of land by particular interests for long periods – thus, delaying its proper development – is one of the major factors that contributes to homelessness. I take the Senator's point, however, that she wants an all-embracing agency to be established to examine all matters relating to housing. We can debate that issue when the relevant Minister comes before the House.