Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will share some time with Senator Healy Eames.

I am disappointed on the education budget. I am particularly concerned that it may be masking a problem we are not seeing, that is, that a number of education and training boards, ETBs, around the country have sought permission from the Minister for overdraft facilities to pay their staff. I am aware of one ETB which is looking for €3.3 million to pay staff and €1.7 million to pay its running costs. At some stage I will submit a freedom of information request to find out exactly how many ETBs are in trouble, but we are building up a problem for some stage in the future.

I will not go over it, but career guidance has been hammered here today. The Minister of State will be aware that career guidance is an issue.

I am particularly disappointed that no effort was made to increase the number of middle management posts in schools, or at least I can see nothing there. Principals and deputy principals are at breaking point without middle managers to support them and that is of concern.

I am delighted to see training places, but I wonder if people are aware that those returning to second-chance education in further education are paying a €200 charge to enter the system. They also are paying voluntary contributions. For example, it costs €1,000 to take the course I taught. Where does one get that sort of money? There are also the costs of course materials, travel, subsistence, etc. In case someone is not aware of it, a cup of coffee costs €1.50.

I do not thank any Minister for where we are today. I thank the people of Ireland who have sat quietly and taken all that has been thrown at them. If the Government is succeeding in building this economy, it is on the backs of hungry children going to school every day.

It would be wrong of me not to mention the Defence Forces. As a former member of the Defence Forces, I was extremely proud to see the turnout at the funeral of the late former Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds. They looked so well, but only two days later we discovered that uniforms were borrowed in order that soldiers could look right on parade that day. I checked this out. I visited a barracks not so long ago and I met soldiers who have to borrow parts of uniforms. In this day and age, it is outrageous that soldiers would have to borrow uniforms.