Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail)

The threat to small rural schools is very real and the Government will have to revisit the issue. Some concern has been expressed in the House, in particular by those on the Government side, which I welcome. These schools are a very important infrastructure in what is left of rural Ireland, especially in our Gaeltacht areas where, as Members will know, the pupil-teacher ratio has received a double whammy. We could finish up with just one school on the entire Corca Dhuibhne peninsula, from Tralee to Slea Head.

I do not know if Members are watching a wonderful programme on TG4 called "Fearabh Fionntrá" about the lifestyle, traditions and history of the Corca Dhuibhne area. All the people who participated in the programme were educated in very small schools and achieved a lot in life. It would be very serious if that attack on Gaeltacht schools, in particular, was allowed to mature.

I support the comments of my colleague, Senator Mary White, on the future of local government. Yesterday's presentation to us by the Local Authority Members Association executive was quite lucid. The people have not really cottoned on to the fact that there is a serious threat to their system of local government which they trust and of which they feel they have ownership in a way they do not feel they have ownership of the Seanad and the Dáil. They know their local councillor and council, whether town or county council. The Minister is bypassing the consultation process in this regard. It is quite clear he is moving very swiftly to legislation. We should insist this Chamber has a proper debate on the future of local government and, in particular, of town government which we have had since the late 19th century and which is clearly under threat by the Minister.