Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

Last week we heard of the intention of the Government and the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to further extend the period applicants for the back to education scheme must be on unemployment assistance prior to gaining access back into education. That runs contrary to statements made by many Ministers including the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Dempsey, who trumpeted his intention of providing greater access to education for the disadvantaged. How can those two different stances be reconciled? It was the most severe and callous assessment, to deny people access to back to education allowances. Many people who are trying to get a second chance are being excluded by this Government. I ask the Leader to request the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to return to this House. Furthermore, I support my colleague, Senator Finucane, who requested that the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, come into the House, now that he is reviewing all rural Garda stations. His is said to be outsourcing secretarial work currently performed by members of the Garda. If he is releasing manpower in this way, it should be put back into the rural stations that have already closed rather than continue to close them and allow criminals to run freely through the countryside. There are law and order problems in the countryside as well as in urban areas.