John Paul Phelan (Fine Gael)

I did not get very far when the Leader was here and I will, therefore, ask the Acting Leader to arrange a discussion on national educational psychological services and their uneven distribution throughout the country. Coverage is 18% in County Kilkenny while other parts of the country, such as County Kerry, have 100% coverage. It would be appropriate for the Minister for Education and Science to explain this discrepancy to the House.

We have not held a debate on education since returning from the summer recess. Perhaps the Minister for Education and Science could address the House concerning her announcements during the summer with regard to schools being built through public private partnerships, PPPs. I have no ideological problems with the decision but it would be fitting for the Minister to explain her reasoning. It has recently been shown that schools built through PPPs cost more money.

I agree with Senator O'Toole's comments on the abattoir sector. Senators are aware of small butchers throughout the country who have suffered greatly due to over-regulation. A butcher from Graignamanagh in County Kilkenny approached me recently. Like so many other small shopkeepers, he lives and works on his premises. He must now leave as he must construct a whole array of new facilities, leaving no room for him to live and work in the building. We have witnessed the ruin of a particular sector of Irish society over the past number of years and we need to discuss how over-regulation is the cause of the end of so many of those businesses.