Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I also ask the Leader to arrange for the Minister for Education and Science to come to the House in view of his recent statement about the onus on local authorities to zone land for schools. While he was correct to do so, there is an onus on the Department to work with the local authorities and guarantee that if land is zoned for schools, they will be built.

I would also like to hear the Minister's comment on the recent decision of a school in Mountmellick to build two classrooms instead of erecting prefabs and to do it more cheaply. Prefabs are a disaster. There is much reference to decentralisation, but it is amazing our school building system is so centralised. Should we not follow the Mountmellick example, which has worked very well?