I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 21 and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Wall — the need for the Minister for the Environment and Local Government to issue guidelines to local authorities on the administration of the essential repairs grant scheme so as to introduce some element of uniformity; (2) Deputy Hayes — the need for the Government to outline its plans concerning the sum of money seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau since its establishment and the Government's intentions in relation to amending the Proceeds of Crime Act, 1996, to ring-fence such finance for areas worst affected by the drugs epidemic; (3) Deputy Connaughton — the financial implications for farmers and the subsequent effect on the environment of the recently announced hill ewe scheme; (4) Deputy Gerard Reynolds — the reason a 30 bed dementia unit, which cost £750,000 and was officially opened by the Minister for Health and Children in June 1998, still remains closed; (5) Deputy Joe Higgins — the concern at the low pay rates of some home helps working for certain health boards; (6) Deputy Durkan — the disallowance of disability benefits in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; (7) Deputy Neville — the increase in suicide rates by 20 per cent for the first six months of 1998.
The matters raised by Deputies Connaughton, Joe Higgins, Wall and Hayes have been selected for discussion.