Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I ask the Leader for a debate in the new year on the serious underfunding and staffing of primary schools. It came to light yesterday at the Joint Committee on Education and Science that the capitation grants being provided to primary schools is meeting approximately 50% of the running costs, not including the cost of water, which increased them greatly. The summer works scheme has been ended, which is incredible when one considers the number of jobs, including the fixing of boilers and roofs, done under the scheme throughout the country. I understand the devolved scheme is under threat also and the supply of qualified primary teachers is uncertain, with 13,000 new pupils coming into the system next year. We are on the brink of primary education falling apart. Never was a debate on this issue more urgently needed and I trust the Leader will address that question early in the new year.

I want to make a cross-party call to all my colleagues in this House on the issue of drugs. I have not spoken on this issue heretofore but I am particularly concerned about the holiday period we are facing in terms of our young teenagers. I ask the Leader to ask the Minister for Education and Science to call on all schools in the days prior to the Christmas holidays to have one dedicated session——