Ned O'Sullivan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am sure the Deputy Leader will indulge me when I congratulate my fellow county woman, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, on achieving one of the most striking aspects of the budget yesterday, which was the announcement there would be free primary school books from September. This is a major commitment by the Government towards education. It is directly in line with the philosophy of Donogh O'Malley to provide free education, Paddy Hillery to introduce community schools and Brian Lenihan to introduce free school travel. It is a proud day for me to be a Kerryman. I congratulate the Minister on something that will be seen as historic.

In her own time will the Deputy Leader arrange a debate in the House on the shared island project? Another good aspect of the budget was the allocation of €100 million to the shared island project and a commitment to provide €500 million extra between now and 2025. The shared island project is straight out of the Good Friday Agreement playbook. It is based on reaching out in friendship and co-operation to people who do not share our religion or political views. The shared island project threatens nobody. It welcomes everybody.

The type of funding provided yesterday will allow further work to continue on the Ulster Canal, the Narrow Water bridge and other such major projects. An interdepartmental group is working North and South on implementing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. This is what the Good Friday Agreement is all about. It is about making sure we could be friendly and co-operative with each other. I appeal to the members of the Opposition in particular to espouse and get on board with the shared island project. The support for it has been niggardly. Some of the most nationalist journalists in the northern papers have thrown cold water on it consistently. They have referred to it as weak. One of them said it was small potatoes. What an insult to a sound initiative. They would be better off talking and working with our loyalist friends in the North than going to big rallies and speaking to each other morning, noon and night.