Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We will take statements on water services later, as requested by many colleagues. In the debate, undoubtedly, we will tease out the issues around the package of reform measures announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, last week which still have a very strong conservation element. As meters are installed, the issue of conservation will come more to the fore. Clearly, the package contains the provision that if metered usage is less than the maximum charge, people will receive credit for same. Conservation will increasingly be an important part of the water services programme as people become more aware of the issue. As every Member is aware, nearly 49% of water leaks from the system owing to the lack of infrastructural investment over many decades. Therefore, we all need to be much more conscious of the need for conservation. I hope we will see increased awareness and I am confident that we will with the new measures.

I thank the Leader for amending the Order of Business last Thursday to have a minute's silence to mark the killing and murder of so many women and children through violence in the home. Many of us participated in the very poignant event held outside Leinster House at 11 a.m. last Thursday.

At the event Women's Aid had arranged for a display of shoes representing women who had been killed as well as their children. That brought home to all of us the need for more action on domestic violence. I call on the Leader to arrange a debate in the new year on the report of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality on domestic violence which makes some important recommendations for change. I know the Minister for Justice and Equality is in the process of developing new legislation in this area.

I call for a debate on third level education as well. I have asked for this before, but we might include in the debate issues around access to education. I figured it was timely to mention this during national college awareness week, which runs this week from 24 to 30 November. The aim is to increase the awareness of the importance of going to college and to demonstrate the impact a third level experience can make on individual lives and communities. I am pleased to say this was originally piloted within the Trinity College access programmes. The Trinity access programmes, TAP, continue to play a key role in the campaign, although national college awareness week is now a national campaign. There are events throughout the Trinity campus this week as well as throughout other third level campuses highlighting the importance of third level education. The aim is to try to increase the visibility of third level education in many communities. I congratulate all involved in that campaign, particularly in the TAP which have been so successful in Trinity.