Donie Cassidy (Fianna Fail)

We should seek to assist and strengthen those who have been giving and creating employment. While Members of the House want to give opinions, they should also acknowledge the facts of the matter.

Senator Fitzgerald and others called for a debate on education. We had such a debate recently. I have no difficulty with allowing time for the Minister to come back into the House to update Senators. I welcome the Minister's announcement last week that 43 new major school building projects are to go to tender, with construction to take place this year. The new schools, extensions and refurbished schools in question will provide 19,600 places to students. Some 5,600 students at post-primary level will get permanent school accommodation in eight new schools. A further 4,275 students in seven post-primary schools will benefit from major extensions and refurbishment projects.