Dominic Hannigan (Labour)

It was wonderful to see Anne Enright win the Man Booker prize for her novel, The Gathering, the second Irish author to win the prize in the past three years. It shows again what a great nurturing ground we are for literary talent. It is important not to forget the words of the former US President, Bill Clinton, that literacy is not a luxury but a right and a responsibility. In some of our more disadvantaged areas, child illiteracy levels stand at 27%. It is incumbent on us as a nation to tackle this. The right to read campaign will hold a conference on this subject on Saturday which I encourage Senators to attend. The campaign wants more funding to be allocated to ensure longer opening hours of libraries and more literacy campaigns. Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Science to provide more funding for this important issue?

Quarrying concerns many residents in the fast-growing urban areas of counties Louth, Meath, Kildare and Dublin. All accept the need for quarries in feeding materials for the construction boom and their importance in being located close to sites where such materials are needed. However, quarrying and quarries can have an impact on the lives of those who reside near them. I read in The Irish Times today that residents in Fettercairn outside Tallaght are concerned at the effect the quarry there is having on respiratory illnesses such as asthma and wheezing. From talking to parents in Bellewstown, County Meath, I know they are concerned about trucks running past schools at all hours of the day. My colleague, Senator Brendan Ryan, has informed me there are problems in Naul, County Dublin, with trucks coming from quarries.

I would like to see a complete review of section 261 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. It was brought in seven years ago and has worked well in parts. Its purpose is to register quarries and to lay down regulations on how they operate. Perhaps the Minister might address the Seanad about reviewing the Act to see what has worked since it was introduced and what needs to be changed so that we might improve life for residents living near quarries.