Michael McCarthy (Labour)

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his indulgence and his masterful craft of delivering guidance on procedure and adhering to it.

In support of Senator O'Donovan's case, I point out that this is another example, as if one were needed, of a lack of joined-up thinking. The State, on the one hand, deserves to be commended on requesting the OPW to identify a site for the school, but the local authority, on the other hand, refused planning permission for the school. That lack of joined-up thinking needs to be examined at a broader level. In this instance, national Government has done one thing while local government has done something else. In any event, I urge that progress is made to a point where the site can be acquired and a new school built.