Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

Senator Doherty highlighted a very important issue as regards reskilling and upskilling. A few weeks ago I made known my views to the House on the challenges facing FÁS. If there is a six months delay before a person can qualify for a back to education allowance, this should be examined immediately, as should the 75%-25% funding. It should be 100% funding because if companies have their backs to the wall in terms of keeping their businesses going, they certainly need all the assistance they can get. If FÁS has got a significant allocation for retraining and upskilling between now and 2020, now is the time to make some of it available. In my little village, Castlepollard, almost 600 people are now unemployed, which is a serious statistic in north west Meath, where there is very little happening as regards jobs. As Senator McFadden knows, we used to have Bord na Móna, the ESB and many great employers, but they are no longer there. Everyone needs to play his or her part. The need for reskilling and retraining must be considered as a matter of urgency, as was pointed out to the House this morning. I urge Senators to make this part of the discussion on the economy next week to ascertain if matters can be changed without further delay.

Senator Walsh referred to the national development plan and spoke about the need for national speed limits to be updated. The National Roads Authority is responsible for this and it is not a major job. Once the cameras come into operation, if everyone is seen to be playing his or her part, I am sure motorists will be only too willing to do likewise. Having 40 mph speed limits on a dual carriageway is unacceptable. In some places the speed limit is 30 mph, or just under 40 kph. This is unacceptable, since a dual carriage should have a 100 kph limit, and then everyone can play his or her part in complying with the speed limits.

As today is International Day against Torture, Senators Callely and Bacik called for a debate on rendition. I can agree to that as well as to setting aside time for a debate on overseas development aid. Senator Mary White outlined to the House in some detail her serious concerns about funding for third level education. It is time for this to be reviewed, particularly in areas where jobs are to be found, such as science. Ireland must be made more attractive for the brains of Europe to be educated here and to hold on to their intellectual property rights.