Seanad debates

Tuesday, 22 November 2005

3:00 pm

Photo of Mary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

Senator Brian Hayes noted that the new stretch of motorway from Kinnegad to Kilcock will be tolled at €2.40 per journey and that the barriers will open if five cars or more are queueing. He asked that this should be applied retrospectively to the M50 tolling arrangements. The situation for anyone on that road is miserable. Even at noon today, as I travelled around the M50 roundabout, there were long queues for the toll booths.

Senator Hayes also raised the North-South car trafficking issue. He urged the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to introduce a new law to deal with thieves breaking and entering and choosing cars. There should be greater liaison between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána on this matter.

Senator O'Toole referred to the schools league tables. I fully agree with his comments. It was farcical and ludicrous. There is a school in a disadvantaged area in Athlone, St. Aloysius's, which was No. 4 in both The Sunday Times and the Irish Independent, but was not mentioned in The Irish Times. The school concentrates on repeat leaving certificates. It is admirable that there is a strong wish for more education among parents, but the idea that a school should be judged on the numbers that go on to third level is wrong. That should not be the basis for a league table. This is all being done under the guise of transparency, openness, freedom of information, etc., in an effort to ascertain how schools are run.

Schools are about imparting knowledge and life skills so that whole people emerge who have within themselves the necessary bulwarks to stand up to life. Senator O'Toole is correct in his comments. For a person to be valued on the basis of the letters after his or her name is ludicrous. The Senator spoke about toleration and understanding and said that such qualities are forgotten in the rat race that ensues.

Senator O'Toole also asked for a debate on alternative energy, including wind energy and the incentives for its use. The debate on the Book of Estimates is scheduled for Thursday when, as he knows, anything may be raised. Perhaps this matter could be brought up then.

Senator Tuffy referred to the schools league tables and noted that most schools are not fee paying institutions. I agree with her. The school to which I referred is not nor are some others which were identified.

Senator Tuffy also raised the issue of electronic tagging and suggested the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform did not appear to be sure about it. She said it would be far better if existing measures were implemented rather than embarking on new ones. The Senator also expressed concern that in too many instances charges were not be made in respect of files sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Senator Mansergh agreed with the comments on league tables. I agree with him when he said what is happening is an outrage against education philosophy. Unfortunately, this is also creeping into third level with the introduction of performance measurement and related appraisal initiatives. It is wrong when one reflects on the ideal of a university education. The Senator said this trend in the media should be resisted.

I could not agree more with Senator Finucane as regards crafts and apprenticeships. One can rarely get a plumber or a carpenter and they are paid enormous sums of money. Senator Ormonde decries the league table ethos that is emerging and says we should squash the opinion that only third level qualifications are desirable and worth fighting for.

Senator Ross spoke about a replacement of the penalty points system. Talks are in progress but they are excruciatingly slow and do not appear to be going anywhere. The Senator also spoke of what he termed a "nuclear option" to the effect that the Government can set toll charges at zero. He noted that the money for this was made available in the budget. Perhaps that matter, too, might be raised during the debate on the Book of Estimates.

Senator Maurice Hayes spoke of values in the education system, a matter we need to debate together with the chasing worthless university degrees. The House heard some comments on that last week when reference was made to the Barry McSweeney case.

Senator Ulick Burke referred to feeder schools and the ludicrous situation of a school which no longer exists but which the league tables indicate as a feeder school to universities. This is leading to social division in education and as the numbers game increases this will continue to happen. I commend the Senator on his comments on facilities in the so-called top posh schools for special needs pupils.

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