Ivana Bacik (Independent)

I support the calls made by Senators Fitzgerald and O'Toole for a debate on the disturbing report from the OECD on falling literacy levels in Ireland and the poor rate of achievement in maths. It gives the lie to the notion that this is a country that can be proud of its education system when so many children are falling between the cracks in the system. As Senator O'Toole stated, this is about the systemic doing away of supports for children. I heard the other day from a friend who is part of the visiting teachers service for Travellers about the effects of the cuts in the numbers of resource teachers. This can be replicated in respect of children living in disadvantaged areas. I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that, instead of having a sos for one hour, we debate the report from the OECD. While we would need more than one hour to debate it, the debate could be rolled over and continued next week.