Jimmy Harte (Labour)

I thank Senator Terry Leyden for raising this matter. He has covered the point I made yesterday, namely, that erroneous information is being peddled on the Internet about the legality of the household charge. In the interests of those who want to pay it - I believe all of the people in the country want to do so - the Minister should clarify the position.

Will the Leader ask the Minister for Education and Skills to come to the House to discuss the issue of rural schools? I make an interesting journey every Tuesday morning from Donegal to Dublin and when I cross the Border at Strabane, I pick up BBC Radio Ulster. However, I lose that coverage when I leave Aughnacloy and travel into County Monaghan. The content of the coverage on Radio Ulster is completely different from that on radio stations here from the point of view of rural schools. The situation of rural schools in County Fermanagh was discussed recently while I was travelling to Dublin. There are 44 in primary schools in County Fermanagh, 40 of which are located in rural areas. In terms of the enrolment threshold, 25 of these schools will have to close. However, none of the four urban primary schools will have to close. This will affect 1,600 primary schoolchildren in rurals areas of the county. Will the Sinn Féin Party Members of the House tell me why it is planned to close 40 rural primary schools in County Fermanagh?