Before coming to the Order of Business I wish to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31. I will call on Deputies in the order in which they submitted notices to my office.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek leave to move the adjournment of the Dáil on the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the proposed closure of the Teagasc research facility in Ballinamore, County Leitrim, in view of the detrimental effect this will have on the important research being conducted into the unique conditions of that part of the country and for the overall employment and economic prospects in the area.
I seek leave to move the adjournment of the Dáil on the following specific and important matter of public interest requiring urgent consideration, namely, the decision by the Department of Education and Science to axe 300 concessionary teaching posts and the impact this will have on the Government's stated objective of improving access to education when it will lead to larger class sizes and fewer subject choices; and the reason the Government insists on targeting vital public services for cutbacks instead of increasing revenue through a taxation system which genuinely redistributes wealth in society.
I ask that the House be adjourned to debate an issue of national importance alluded to and not properly answered by the Taoiseach earlier, namely, the decision by the Government, despite strong advice to the contrary from various groups, to persist with its proposed cutback of 300 concessionary teachers responsible for minority subjects and not employed on a permanent basis, which will – the Taoiseach and Tánaiste should take note if they are watching on the monitor – impact on future job creation, notably in the area of science, and cost the economy much more than the cutbacks will save.
Standing Orders allow Members to read out the questions they submitted to the Office of the Ceann Comhairle. They may not elaborate on them.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following issue of urgent national importance, namely, the axing of 300 concessionary teaching posts by the Department of Education and Science which will severely disrupt the work of more than 500 secondary schools nationally, lead to increased class sizes and result in access to minority subjects such as chemistry, physics, art and music being cut and will adversely affect the education of special needs students at second level, all of which would further damage our under-funded and over-stretched secondary school system and could have a seriously detrimental effect on our future economic performance.
Having considered the matters, they are not in accordance with Standing Order 31.