Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31.
Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31.
I seek the adjournment of Dáil Éireann under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent public and national concern, namely, the report of the National Centre for Technology in Education which found 20% of computers in schools are unusable and many others use old and virtually obsolete operating systems, such as Windows 95, 98 and 2000 for which technical support can no longer be obtained. It also found a further 11% of PCs require upgrading or repairs, 19% of all working computers are more than six years old and 29% of computers in primary schools are beyond repair. The report calls for substantial ICT investment by the Government in primary and second level schools to ensure our students are able to fully benefit from constantly evolving information technology.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of national importance and concern, namely, the urgent need to assist children with autism through proper funding and support services and support their families' requests for schools for all children with autism. It is deplorable that parents are forced to spend their own money, sometimes approximately €10,000, to provide an education for their children. I call on the Government to support the ABA school situated at Scoil Naomh Colmcille in Donaghmede with permanent funding and staffing. I also call on the Minister for Education and Science to meet these families as a matter of priority to ensure the rights of all children with a disability are protected with adequate services and supports.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under the terms of Standing Order 31 on a matter of national and local importance, namely, the unfair allocation of the motor tax fund which effectively makes up the local government fund. In the rapidly developing area of Kildare, €36 million was paid into the motor tax fund in 2005 but only €26 million was allocated to run council services. The preliminary census of population figures are used and the Government also accepts the needs and resources model of funding local authorities is unfair and produces significantly contrasting levels of service and facilities. These issues must be addressed. Just as the public has the right to expect an equitable taxation system, it has a right to expect its money is spent in an equitable way.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a specific matter of local importance requiring urgent attention, namely, the need for the Minister for Transport to intervene with the National Roads Authority to immediately approve the construction of Tipperary town bypass, which is urgently needed to facilitate the economic development of Tipperary town and the west Tipperary area generally.
I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss a matter of major national and local importance, namely, that drift net fishermen in north-east England were reputedly given £70,000 sterling a number of years ago in a buy-out in the interest of salmon conservation with £110,000 sterling offered as a buy-out to those remaining, but only approximately €2,000 has been offered to our 850 drift net fishermen for a similar buy-out with €23 per salmon caught in the past five years and a quota reduction of 75% already operating in some cases. No provision is made for drift net crews nor was any other option for them considered, such as set-aside. Is this equitable considering the devastating effect for the rest of their lives on those men and their families from rural areas?
Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.