Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

I ask the Leader to arrange a debate in the new year on education. I compliment the Minister for Education and Science on her new initiative under which she is providing funding for all schools to invest in CD players. Music, and culture generally, are important to the education system.

Many Departments have lo-call numbers whereby people outside the Pale can phone up for the same rate as a local call. The Department of Education and Science is the only one that does not have a lo-call number. When I contacted the Department of Defence, it did not even know it had a lo-call number. As a matter of priority, all Departments should be made aware that people living outside Dublin would appreciate being able to phone them without having to pay national call rates.