Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

The decision of the Christian Brothers to give a one-year reprieve to St. Michael's national school in Inchicore is obviously belatedly welcome. However, we have a longer-term problem in that area and in many other parts of the city, which relates to the provision of new schools and education facilities for growing communities. I ask the Acting Leader to arrange a debate at the earliest possible time with the Minister for Education and Science so she can set out her policy in this area.

We have a particular problem in south-west and west Dublin in the provision of new schools. Thousands of new houses are being built with no new schools to meet the housing demand. We should consider amending the terms of Part V of the Planning and Development Act to allow developers and builders to make specific contributions towards funding new primary schools in areas with extensive new housing developments.

It is ridiculous that people should need to wait for 8,000 or 9,000 new homes to be built before getting a new national school. The problem with St. Michael's in Inchicore is being reflected in many other parts of the city. We need a debate on this issue. We need to ensure the Minister for Education and Science has a new policy to meet this demand. There is no lateral planning and thinking between the Department of Education and Science and any of the local authorities in Dublin on this urgent matter.

The Acting Leader may be aware of the particular new craze within the Dublin criminal fraternity of cars being stolen to order. As we know, without the key it is virtually impossible to steal a car fitted with an immobiliser. However, cars now being stolen to order involve two crimes, namely, breaking and entering as a means of getting the keys of the car, and robbing the car. These cars are then transferred on to the Continent where very lucrative trafficking of stolen cars takes place.

I ask the Acting Leader to use his good offices to raise with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform a particular solution in use in Northern Ireland. PSNI patrol cars are fitted with a satellite vehicle recognition system, which allows stolen cars to be detected automatically by those patrol cars. Garda cars in this jurisdiction do not have the same technology. In consultation with the Garda Commissioner, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform needs to take up this issue. Very substantial sums of money are being lost as a result of cars being stolen in Ireland and ending up in the lucrative continental car market. We must address the issue and one way to do so is to advance technology in Garda cars.