Joe O'Toole (Independent)

The issue raised by Fine Gael is one I have raised before. We should be aware of this and it should discussed here next week in the Croke Park agreement debate. There are 32 local authorities replicating each others' work in grant applications and college fees. There are then 32 different places sending cheques to different colleges. The students then go to the college authorities, prove their identities and are then given the cheques. The students have never seen a cheque in their lives because people of that age do not deal in cheques. This should be done through technology. Grants should be transferred to the students' accounts every month. The idea of this being replicated in 32 locations and working on a system of cheques and identity creates work the like of which we would not have seen in the old-fashioned USSR. It is a poor reflection on how we should be doing business. The students' union has made this point clearly as well.

How will we see this economy grow following on from the four year plan? There is not enough detail in it. I would like a full debate on this matter. I would like to hear people in the Chamber advancing their proposals on the economy. The other issue, which should be discussed separately, is the question of State agencies. The report has a few pages dealing with them. People talk of quangos and they are all treated as if they are the same. It is time to start looking at these, what they are doing, which ones we need to retain, which ones we do not need any more and which ones are not doing what they were set up to do. We should also consider their efficiency, whether they are getting reports out on time and whether the annual statements of accounts and budgets are published on time. We should also consider the relationship with the parent Department. We need to examine the four year plan and focus on particular areas. Last night was satisfactory to kick it off with a general response but we need to examine certain areas, including growth and State agencies. Next week we will have a debate on the Croke Park agreement, which is another aspect of the four year plan. We need to examine these matters with clear objectives.