Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael)

I will raise two issues. The Leader will recall that before the summer recess a number of other Senators and I sought a wide-ranging debate with the Minister for Education and Skills. The need for such a debate is more urgent than ever. The first issue I would raise with the Minister is the continuing decline in educational standards, particularly in mathematics. I am especially concerned about our performance in project maths. Yesterday's junior certificate results also show up how poorly we are performing in foreign languages. Ireland is the weakest country in the European Union in learning languages.

I am especially concerned about the extent to which parents must shore up the education system by providing for private grinds at great cost. This issue must be addressed.

A debate on education should also examine ways to support children with special educational needs in the classroom. Is the special needs assistant, SNA, model the only way forward and what role can parents play in this regard? I do not believe the model is sustainable in terms of cost.

On the sale of a minority stake in the ESB, a member of the public made an interesting proposal to me yesterday. Given the large amount of savings held by Irish people, will the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, make a statement to the House on the proposed sale? I would like to ask him to consider establishing a syndicate or fund to enable Irish people to bid for a stake in the ESB. This is an innovative proposal because the sale of a minority stake in the ESB rather than simply providing a cash cow for the country would also give people a stake in the company.

I look forward to the Leader's responses on the two urgent issues I have raised.