Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

The Central Statistics Office, CSO, report released today shows that national income is down by €5.5 billion, partly because of the cuts and levies but mostly because of the fear of spending. Underlying that is people's fear of losing their homes. That is why they are holding on to their money. Foreclosures are on the up. I and Senator MacSharry asked for the Minister for Finance to come into the House to debate how he will intervene with the banks and request them to come up with creative solutions to help people to hold on to their homes. This is critical. One's home is one's castle. It is one's dignity. If one does not have a home, one has nothing. As people lose their jobs their homes are at risk. I would have liked to have had this debate before the summer recess.

Yesterday I asked the Leader whether the Minister for Education and Science agrees that schools should levy parents to hire extra teachers because of the cutbacks. I did not ask for a debate on this but for an answer to that question. There are huge pitfalls in this proposal. Our education system will become like our failed health system if we go down the road of paying for education within the public system. It is a very serious move and I want an answer from the Leader, not a debate, before the summer recess.