James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I am sure the Minister will bring her own thoughts to her position. I ask that she imbue our education with all the benefits of a little common sense, something which is important in politics today. I admire the Minister's tone in answering the questions posed today. However, her answer was unsatisfactory to Members on this side of the House and to current and future pupils and teachers at St. Catherine's College. Common sense is lacking in terms of the closure of the school being discussed this evening. Common sense tells us St. Catherine's College is a valuable education facility to its community. It is one of two home economics teacher training colleges, the other being St. Angela's in Lough Gill, County Sligo, which caters for the western and northern regions. St. Catherine's College has traditionally catered for students from Leinster and Munster. Access to a range of second level schools for teacher work placement during their training will be limited and will incur significant costs for students from a Sligo base. Senator MacSharry referred to the cost of student accommodation. The placement of students in other colleges will prove costly. They will have to come back to Dublin, the east coast, the south coast and Munster eventually.