Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I support the calls for a debate on the OECD report on education. I acknowledge the comparatively high status of our 15 year old secondary school students in the report's results. However, one important area in which we are falling down is mathematics. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, must indicate to the House her plans for dealing with this and also the lack of discipline and bullying. It is important for the Minister to challenge these particular topics by implementing a recognisable policy for all involved.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to allow local authorities some discretion in spending funds given to them for specific projects? Members speak of traffic gridlock in Dublin, but we have it in the west too. As regards gridlock on the main approach road to Galway, the local authority gave the legitimate reason that it is forced to spend the money within a given period. If it is not spent by a certain date in December, it must be returned to the Exchequer. This is ridiculous. If we are serious about obtaining value for money, it is important for the Minister to give local authorities some discretion to allow them to spend their funds at the most appropriate time to enable works to continue in a reasonable manner.