Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Guím gach dea-ghuí ar an gCathaoirleach agus ar Cheannaire an Tí, ar mo chomhghleacaithe anseo agus ar an bhfoireann atá tar éis freastal thar barr orainn ar feadh na bliana. Go dté siad slán i mbliana. I wish everyone the good wishes of the season and thank the staff and Cathaoirleach.

I note that the Samaritans brought us back to earth with a bang when they gave us a presentation the other day around their services. I commend them on the services they deliver and note that while Christmas can be a difficult time for many, there are those like the Samaritans who do incredible work to support people. Their new helpline 116 123 is available through the winter season and they also have a line for the North 008457 909090 for those who find themselves in need of support. Their message was that they have had a 50% increase in that since they brought it in. They put a great deal of that down to the fact that the telecommunications companies are actually supporting those helplines. We must commend those companies on the work they are doing and ask them to continue to support it as there is a finite date on it. I commend all of the volunteers and those who support that vital service.

I raise with the Leader an issue which is coming to the fore and needs to be addressed quickly with the Minister for Education and Skills. It relates to nominations from ETBs to the boards of management of local schools. It is particularly affecting rural areas and Irish medium schools because there is a limit of 20 km being imposed by the Department of Education and Skills on members who are eligible to sit on a board of management. In an area like Connemara, most of the schools are more than 20 km apart and many people are simply ruled out of sitting on the board of management of any school. Boards are finding it very difficult to find people to sit on them which issue is compounded in Irish language medium schools and Gaelscoileanna given the limited number of Irish speakers on ETBs themselves. It is a huge problem to get people onto boards and it needs to be addressed. The gender quota system is causing issues in Donegal. While I welcome the quota, it appears a great deal of pressure is being put on female councillors in Donegal to go on the board of the ETB even though they do not want to. That also needs to be addressed.

I would welcome a debate on those issues. I ask the Leader to intervene with the Minister for Education and Skills as soon as he can. I also ask for a debate on the future of rural schools in spring and on the future of Irish language education and Irish medium education. Nollaig Shona a cháirde ar fad.