Joe Conway (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas ó chroí a ghabháil leat agus tú tofa mar Chathaoirleach an Tí stairiúil seo. Ina theannta sin, déanaim comhghairdeas le gach duine. Tá sé tuillte ag gach duine anseo a togadh. Last week at the start of the Twenty-seventh Seanad, many Members from throughout the country celebrated the great heterogeneity of the Membership. It is wonderful that we have such a broad perspective and depth of experience from all arts and parts of the country. Gura fada buan é sin ar aghaidh. Senators are very aware that, as a result of this great perspective, there will be a great appreciation of the high quality of life we have in this country. Unfortunately, that quality of life does not extend to the realms of education. Senator Tully has just addressed this issue and I want to place further emphasis on it. With regard to primary education, many of us know about the DEIS initiative begun by the Department of Education approximately 20 years ago. It has operated very successfully as an initiative but, unfortunately, it does not reach into what we in the countryside would call rural educational disadvantage. I contend it is not a good fit for that.To that end, I have been in touch with a score of my hitherto fellow councillors around the country, ó na ceithre hairde, and have asked them to do the introductions to rural schools in the north, south, east and west. This is in order that we could go in and do some sort of what might be called a soft investigation of the levels of disadvantage in these rural schools to enable us to get a better picture of the situation. I hope that before the end of this calendar year we will get a chance to compile a report and bring it to all the Members here.

I ask that the Ceannaire include this in his diary and that when we get to the point where we would be able to look at the report, he invite the Minister for Education to the House in order that we might have a good, comprehensive debate on rural disadvantage in primary schools. I thank the Leader and Members. I look forward to working with them all, as well as the team here in the Seanad, including the Clerk and his staff. I am thankful for the courtesy extended to me during the election. I am very honoured to be here.