Joe McHugh (Fine Gael)

Níl mé an-sásta. There is something amiss here. Last October, I received a letter from representatives of all voluntary and Catholic schools, while last November, I also received a letter from a secondary school. The Minister of State digressed when he referred to what he described as the unbelievable increases in funding to this area since 1997. The voluntary schools seek an increase of €50 per pupil, yet an increase of only €4 per pupil has been provided.

I urge the Minister of State to ask the Minister for Education and Science to contact the voluntary schools sector. Its representatives would not write to me if they were satisfied with current funding arrangements. There is a problem here and a breakdown in communication. It is of paramount importance, therefore, that the matter be addressed. Like every good politician, the Minister of State digressed to speak about his own achievements, on which I congratulate him.