Pearse Doherty (Sinn Fein)

I echo Senator Fitzgerald's call for a proper debate with a question and answer session. All Senators, regardless of their political affiliation or outlook, want to work together to get the economy back on track. While all parties should welcome the Minister's intervention early this morning, its purpose is to protect the banks. We need information on how he intends to protect the citizens and taxpayers who are underwriting €500 billion in debt. As Senator Ross noted, it is unlikely this debt will be called in. Nevertheless, as we are making a substantial commitment, we need to know how we will benefit and ensure taxpayers are not caught in the long grass. What is the quid pro quo for citizens?

On procedural matters, when is it proposed to take Committee Stage of the Housing (Miscellaneous) Provisions Bill 2008, Second Stage of which is scheduled for tomorrow?

Senator Bradford raised the processing of social welfare claims. People in County Donegal and many other areas will be familiar with long queues of people waiting outside social welfare offices as they seek to have their claims for benefits processed. It is degrading to require people to stand on a public street, frequently in rain, as they wait to have social welfare claims processed. One social welfare office in County Donegal recently closed its doors to members of the public because demand was so high.

Last weekend I spoke to three people who visited their local social welfare office to inform officials they had been unemployed, only to be told to return in three weeks if they wished to speak to an officer. It is deplorable that those who have been working to build up the economy are being treated in this manner by the Government and system. The Minister should come before the House to discuss the resources needed in the public service to address increased demand for social welfare benefits.

I ask the Leader to facilitate a debate on the crisis in the education system at the earliest possible opportunity. The first day of the new session affords Senators the first opportunity to raise this issue. Tens of thousands of young children recently returned to school to be educated in prefabricated classrooms. buildings which are falling apart or were once rat infested and classrooms which have windows nailed shut. The Minister is aware of countless schools across the Twenty-six Counties which have been certified as dangerous by local authority fire officers or include buildings which electrical contractors have indicated are not safe for children to enter. Notwithstanding these problems, it was announced yesterday that 25 of 1,400 projects on the schools building programme would proceed. The announcement was a disgrace. The Minister must come before the House to explain how he proposes to bail out children from prefabricated classrooms and deplorable conditions in buildings which are falling down and provide them the modern accommodation they deserve.