Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to welcome and announce funding on behalf of the Government, together with my colleagues from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, of over €60 million for Galway city. This funding will transform our city in respect of things for which people have spent years working. Local communities in Wood Quay have been looking for regeneration to have public realm space in Wood Quay, Eyre Square and across the city. We are also spending €10 million on Oranmore train station and preparing Ceannt Station in order that we can finally see double-tracking from Athenry to the city. With the support of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, I believe we will see this.

The old stumps of the Clifden railway line have been an historic sight across the Corrib. They will be transformed into a cycling and pedestrian way that will link the university with Wood Quay. It will be something magnificent to come to Galway for, as if there is not enough to come there for already. There will also be a start to the Moycullen to Galway part of the Connemara greenway. I woke up with a spring in my step. This is a good day for the west and I am delighted to welcome the funding.

Turning to another matter, I received an email, as other Senators have, which was quite disturbing.It relates to a fourth class English book. I would like the Leader to ask the Minister for Education to investigate it. It is quite shocking to read some of the things in this fourth class English book about autism and young people. It could have a deep impact on mental health at a very young age. The book states:

My own hands squeeze to fists. Sometimes I wish someone would invent a pill so David'd wake up one morning without autism, like someone waking from a long coma, and he'd say "Jeez, Catherine, where have I been". And he’d be a regular brother like Melissa has.

Imagine putting that into the hands of small children. We are trying to teach people about tolerance and self-worth. I would like to investigate whether this is in fourth class classrooms and, if it is, we really need to have a conversation about what it is that children are being taught.