Michael Kitt (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Brian Hayes's call for a debate on the issue of postal voting. The register of electors has been printed and at first glance appears a big improvement on the old register. The issue of giving votes to people going on holidays reminds me of the debate we used have about immigrants voting. Some people are away so long on holidays that we could not really give them a vote. However, I welcome any discussion to find practical ways of dealing with the issue.

Senator Burke raised the issue of Seamount College in Kinvara. It is the Sisters of Mercy, western province, who intend to close the college and there is no gainsaying that. I support the Senator's call for a site for a new secondary school in Kinvara if the Sisters of Mercy are not prepared to provide the site, lease the property or take in new students in September. With regard to the change in the catchment area, Senator Burke and I have campaigned for years to improve the situation in the context of school transport which has suffered because of the restrictions of the catchment area. Perhaps the change in the catchment will help. I would welcome a debate on the issue of an alternative site for a new co-educational secondary school in Kinvara, especially in light of the increased number of houses and the increasing population in Kinvara and south Galway.