Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

I do not intend to delay the establishment of the education board as it is important. Equally, however, a period of three months will be too tight. An ad hoc committee already administers the scheme and it has taken applications for the coming school year, 2005 to 2006. It is important that this group should be allowed to continue with its work as it deals with the applicants. The interim period would allow the board to look at the criteria, procedures and the application process. As soon as that board is set up, the ad hoc group would end its work. However, the ad hoc group is in the middle of very valuable work dealing with the next academic year. I propose to allow it to get through that period and then set up the board immediately.