I join Senator Harte in congratulating Donegal on its fantastic victory on Sunday. I commiserate with the Cathaoirleach and the wonderful people of County Mayo. I do not doubt that they will be back next year.

They have been saying that for the past 60 years.

In the past year and a half, I have raised the issue of the future of Dún Uí Neill Army barracks in Cavan.

After its closure in March I called on many occasions for it to be opened again because of security threats along the Border, just seven miles from its location in Cavan town. Yesterday was a sad day in that it marked the official end of the proud tradition of the Irish Army in Cavan town. It was also a happy day because of an education story that I have for colleagues.

Senator O'Reilly, some Members of the Lower House and I attended the handing over of the barracks from the Department of Defence to County Cavan VEC. I compliment everybody involved in that transfer, particularly the following: the chief executive officer of the VEC, Mr. Colm McEvoy; the adult education officer, Ms Fiona Maloney; the principal of the Cavan Institute of further education, Ms Ann Marie Lacey; the chairperson of County Cavan VEC, Councillor Madeleine Argue; and the members of County Cavan VEC for the excellent proposal they put forward for the barracks to the Department of Education and Skills.

Do not forget the Minister for Defence.

We will come to him in a moment.

Is there a question for the Leader?

I thank the Cathaoirleach for his indulgence. The Department of Education and Skills has paid €1.25 million to the Department of Defence so the books can be kept correct. In complimenting everybody involved in the proposed project with County Cavan VEC, I call on the Leader to ensure that the necessary funding is provided from the Department of Finance to the Department of Education and Skills to ensure the facility can be used to its full potential in housing over 1,000 students from the Cavan Institute of Further Education. It could also be used by the adult education section of County Cavan VEC for the education of many hundreds of people, not only from Cavan but from surrounding counties.

When will the Minister for Education come before the House with the proposed legislation to enact the education and training boards? I condemn the decision of the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, to close the barracks in Cavan in the first place.