I almost knocked down one or two of our guests when I was racing to the Chamber too but they kindly left me a gap. I welcome the kids from Longford and acknowledge their local Senator and the work he does for education in this House.

It is timely because my question relates to my own primary school in Grange. I would like a debate with the Minister for Education. Schools around the country have been lucky in terms of the funding available for extensions and the building of new primary and secondary schools. We in Grange made a successful application to the Department of Education. However, because of rising costs, the expense involved in the application have increased. The school went back to the Department of Education with a small increase and has been waiting some time for a decision to be made. By the time the decision has been made, costs will have risen again. The principal, Marie Keating, along with the board of management, has done phenomenal work. The teachers are phenomenal in the work they do and the commitment they give. This is an important extension for the school in Grange. I ask the Minister to speed up that process in any way possible. I know there are schools across the country that need funding but it is important that it is done as quickly as possible. It would be timely to have a debate with the Minister for Education on that subject anyway.

I have asked in the past for a debate with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, about all the schemes she gives to rural areas across the country, including my county of Tipperary. Those schemes include CLÁR and the town and village renewal scheme. Those schemes serve an important purpose for areas such as mine in Tipperary. To give one example, the village of Drangan in Tipperary has put forward a CLÁR application to do up bits of the playground and to resurface the road. It is an important application. My colleague, Councillor Mark Fitzgerald, has been working hard on this issue. People in the community, such as Ailish O'Brien and others, have done an awful lot of work on this application. It is important to get decisions made as quickly as possible on those applications. We are lucky that we are able to fund so many of these kinds of playgrounds and community projects but we need decisions to be made as quickly as we can to get those projects over the line. That was a very good playground and it needs to have work done to fix equipment and things like that. I would be very grateful if we could get a decision as quickly as possible.

I, too, welcome the representatives of St. Sinneach's National School. I welcome the principal, Ms Glynn, sixth class teacher, Ms Lavelle, and all the students to the House. I hope they enjoy their trip to Dublin. I concur with the Cathaoirleach's comments that there is a homework pass for this evening and perhaps for the rest of the week. It is a fantastic school in south Longford. Senator Ahearn mentioned the CLÁR scheme. I know St. Sinneach's was successful in getting a grant last year through that scheme. Those schemes are invaluable throughout the county. I have been involved in a CLÁR application this year on behalf of a neighbouring school in south Longford, Lenamore National School, which I hope is prioritised. It has applied for funding to provide a sensory area for kids with needs. There are a significant number of kids with those needs in many schools throughout the county.

I hope the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Humphreys, will look favourably on the application.

I concur with the comments made by Senator Buttimer and I apologise to him as I was giving someone details while he was speaking. I pay tribute to the Cathaoirleach for inviting Congressman Neal here yesterday. It was a fantastic day for this House. The United States of America has made a massive contribution to the Good Friday Agreement and, ultimately, peace in this country. It was an honour for me to be here when Congressman Neal spoke and to be in the presence of other members of his committee.

I pay tribute to the Cathaoirleach on the work he has done for Irish-American relations. It is extremely important that we create links, which he spoke about, with, say, local authorities and state legislators throughout the US to make sure Ireland is always at the top of the agenda in America because many people in the House of Representatives and Senate have strong Irish-American links. If we do not maintain those links, they will weaken over time. We see how important those links are every St. Patrick's Day. Ireland is one of very few countries that gets the opportunity to meet the US President and we want that to continue. I pay tribute to the Cathaoirleach for the work that he has done, and continues to do, to foster links. I look forward to working with him to create links with my own county of Longford and, in particular, I wish to mention state of Maryland as it has very strong links to County Longford.

I thank the Senator for his contribution and kind words.