I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 20 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Crawford — the excessive number of pupils travelling on certain buses between Kingscourt and Carrickmacross, County Monaghan, (2) Deputy Ó Cuív — the need for funding for the Athenry extension scheme to ensure an adequate water supply for the town which has no water from 12 midnight to 7 a.m. at present, (3) Deputy Upton — the need to further develop the country's science and technology resources through research and development to improve the level of innovation in Irish industry, (4) Deputy Shortall — the refurbishment of the Holy Spirit schools in Ballymun, Dublin 11, (5) Deputy Theresa Ahearn — the penal financial consequences for a farmer (details supplied) who, due to illness, failed to inform the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of the death of an animal within the correct time limit, thereby losing almost £3,000 in beef premia, (6) the delay in payment of salaries to approximately 700 substitute teachers in the primary sector, (7) Deputy McGinley — the fact that six primary schools in the Falcarragh and Creeslough areas of County Donegal are without the services of a remedial teacher.
I have selected for discussion the matters raised by Deputies Crawford, Shortall, Quill and McGinley.
At this point, I must advise the House that Deputy Quill indicated that she was unable to be present after the selections had been made but not in sufficient time to select another matter for discussion.
In the unavoidable absence of the Minister for Education, the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications will respond to the matters raised.