Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

Senators Fitzgerald and Bacik have referred to the fact that the figures relating to unemployment are on the rise again. They both requested a debate on the Government's stimulus plan for the economy. Such a debate cannot take place because, as far as I am aware, the Government has no such plan. Meanwhile, there is a major crisis in the economy. Joblessness is on the increase and the number of college places is decreasing. I reiterate what I said to the Leader yesterday, namely, that he must impress on the Minister for Education and Science the need to resolve the matter relating to the provision of additional college places with the heads of third level institutions which are also facing a crisis in their funding. There is a need to provide thousands of additional places. College places constitute a recession-proof measure the Government can provide while the economic difficulties we are experiencing continue. The Government must realise FÁS is not the answer to everyone's problems. The latter has a great deal for which to answer, not least in the context of the way in which examinations it oversaw were marked. I call on the Minister for Education and Science to take urgent action on this issue. He should not even wait to come before the House to debate it but rather should work with the third level institutions to increase the number of places available.

An issue also arises with regard to the fact that leaving certificate students are no longer taking honours level mathematics as a result of the demands doing so places on them. There are other subjects which students can study to obtain the necessary points. The Minister for Education and Science has said the project maths programme is not the answer to everything, although we continually hear the programme is on its way. However, it has still not appeared. It needs to begin in primary school. Mathematics must be be taught to a good standard at both primary and second level.