Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The investment we see in Cork follows on the very significant investment of €750 million that will come to Athenry, County Galway, over the next few years.

I support the call for a debate on the banking sector. Senator Norris and others have hit the nail firmly on the head on many issues related to banking. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation yesterday decided to call the pillar banks, which have been bailed out by the taxpayer, to a future meeting to account for the appalling way they have treated small businesses over the past few years. We need a forthright debate on this area.

I also support the call for an update from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on the delay in farm payments. Much of the delay has been caused by the digitising work which the Department has contracted out. There are significant delays in that information being supplied to the Department. It is not good enough. Farmers are under severe pressure at this time of year to pay contractors and to meet various bills and it is important that the logjam be freed up urgently.

I welcome the Government’s announcement last week that €28.5 million is being made available for the payment of minor works grants to primary schools around the country. Schools can use this funding to improve their physical infrastructure, to purchase furniture and physical education and information technology equipment. This funding will be greatly appreciated by boards of management and school principals and will be paid at the rate of €5,500 per school plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. I encourage all schools, particularly those around County Galway, to apply for this funding so that our children can be educated in the best possible facilities.