I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to me under Standing Order 20 (3) (a) and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Mary Flaherty — Whether persons on unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance have benefit disallowed if they are nominated as candidates in local elections. (2) Deputy Paul Connaughton — The problem facing people who have three (3) different telphone prefixes, (093-0903-0907) in the parish of Kilkerrin, Ballinasloe, and because of this, most phone calls are charged at rates above the ordinary local charges. (3) Deputy Charles Flanagan — The need to improve facilities and resources at Portlaoise General Hospital. (4) Deputy Nora Owen — The plight of sufferers of the disease Friedrich's Ataxia who require a "respite care" home as a matter of urgency. (5) Deputy Michael Moynihan — If the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communications will outline the steps he is taking to prevent job losses in Irish Rail in the Mallow-Tralee area; and if he will give assurances that the rail service from Mallow to Killarney and Tralee will be maintained with the assistance of an increased State subvention if necessary. (6) Deputy John Connor — The urgent need for the Minister for Education to sanction funding to link St. Joseph's College, Summerhill, Athlone to Monksland sewerage scheme in view of the fact that the underground link in this proposed project must cross sections of the new Athlone relay road now nearing completion and the absolute economic justification that all works be incorporated in one scheme. (7) Deputy Brendan Howlin — The urgent need for the Minister for Education to sanction the much needed new school for the town of Wexford VEC in view of the unacceptable condition of existing facilities and the threatened withdrawal by members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland from substandard classrooms. (8) Deputy Michael Kitt — If, in the context of the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Communication's discussions with Telecom Éireann on the system of charges for telephone calls, he will investigate the inordinate number of telephone codes in County Galway and the question of local call charges within the county. (9) Deputy Alan Shatter — The provision of a grant by the Minister for Foreign Affairs to provide for the travel expenses and other costs that will be incurred by the four young Irish people selected to play in the European Concert Band over the Easter holiday period. (10) Deputy Mattie Brennan — The threatened closure of the Sligo line by Iarnród Éireann. (11) Deputy Joe Doyle — The inability of parents (details supplied) to obtain a residential school placement for their mentally handicapped daughter who also suffers from a severe form of epilepsy. (12) Deputy John Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny)— The medical standards required by the Civil Service Commission, particularly in relation to eyesight, and if these same standards apply to semi-State companies. (13) Deputy Eamon Gilmore — The inadequacy of the recently announced local authority road grant allocations, to alleviate the pothole state of the country's roads. (14) Deputy Joe Sherlock — The reduction in the hours of the care attendance scheme operated by the Irish Wheelchair Association for handicapped and disabled people and their families due to funding cutbacks by the Southern Health Board. (15) Deputy Eric Byrne — The failure to roster public service vehicle inspectors for duty at weekends and the effects of this in hampering the Garda actions in improving road safety standards. (16) Deputy Tony Gregory — The report on Dublin's north inner city commission by the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul outlining the failure of Government policies to help those most in need in this acutely disadvantaged area as reported in the media (details supplied). (17) Deputy John V. Farrelly — If the Minister for the Environment will outline the plans he has to provide sufficient funds to repair the N52 between Kells and Ardee and if he is aware that Meath County Council are considering closure of the road because of inadequate funds. (18) Deputy Seán Ryan — Whether the Minister for Education will outline the safeguards that are being taken by the English Football Association and the British police force to ensure the safety of both the Irish and English supporters at next Wednesday's soccer international in Wembley. (19) Deputy Bernard Allen — The five per cent increase in the number of people in receipt of unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance in February 1991 over the figures for February 1990 in the Cork city area and the Government's failure to deal with the problem.
I have selected for discussion the matters raised by the following Deputies: (1) Deputy Joe Doyle, (2) Deputy Joe Sherlock and (3) Deputy Brendan Howlin.
