Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)

I support my colleague. The Government is disproportionately attacking Gaeltacht schools, and Protestant and minority schools. When the Minister says that small rural schools of four teachers and fewer should consider amalgamation, it tells us where he is at. Schools in my area in Lauragh, Realt na Mara, Tahilla and Banawn will all be affected as will schools throughout rural areas. We are witnessing the Government closing down rural Ireland one school at a time. When a school is gone no family will move into that area and everybody in this Chamber knows that.

There seems to be a silence among organisations such as the IFA and the GAA. Why do they not come out and state publicly that they want to retain children in rural areas? If these schools are closed down, as the Minister has proposed by telling them that they should consider their future, then the very fabric of rural areas will disappear and this Government will be responsible for it. I believe many Members on the Government side do not want to be associated with the actions of this Minister. As my colleague has pointed out, he did not take any tough decisions affecting Dublin because he is from Dublin. He does not care about Senators who come from rural areas and know the consequences of what will happen in rural areas as a result of this action.