Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

Ar dtús báire I want to mention the issue regarding the state of school buildings raised again today by Senator O'Toole. I am glad that it has been selected as a matter for the Adjournment this week. It is appalling that parents, pupils and teachers have been left in a situation where they do not know when their schools will be refurbished or updated. There is a question now of political interference in the process. When this Minister took office, she overturned a practice already in place, where school building lists were produced. As Senator O'Toole mentioned two days ago, some schools have to repeatedly phone the Department of Education and Science to seek updates on what stage their projects are at only to get standard answers.

When the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, was in Ballinamore, County Leitrim recently, she attacked the parents' committee for contacting the Department of Education and Science on a daily basis. It is appalling that any Minister might leave the parents in that situation, but to attack citizens for trying to do what is best for their children is terrible and is probably an example of the state of education in Ireland.

I support Senator Alan Kelly's proposal for a discussion on the undocumented Irish. I proposed on Tuesday, and three times before that, a joint party motion on this issue. I understand that the Leas-Chathaoirleach has ruled the motion out of order, but there is nothing to prevent the Leader from taking the same text and passing a motion in the House without debate. I appeal to the Leader not to make this a party political issue, which it is not.