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 Ulick Burke – the need to reverse the decision to reduce Derryoober national school, Woodford, County Galway, from a three to a two teacher school from September 1999; (2) Deputy McGennis – the need to enforce existing licensing procedures for petrol stations under the Dangerous Substances Act, 1972; (3) Deputy Ring – the need to confirm if there are any plans to cease the payment of social welfare benefits through An Post; (4) Deputy Connaughton – the need to discuss the subject of turf cutting in bogs designated as special areas of conservation; (5) Deputy Belton – the decision by the FÁS office to discontinue schemes in cemeteries in the midlands region; (6) Deputy Rabbitte – the implications of the Government decision to reduce places on community employment schemes by 2,500; (7) Deputy Enright – the concerns of many social welfare recipients in rural areas regarding access to payment of their pensions which may no longer be available at their local post office from next year; (8) Deputy McManus – the time frame the Government will support as the lead-in period for a 48 hour working week for junior doctors; (9) Deputy Michael D. Higgins – the need to discuss the reported disappearance of the files pertaining to the working of the Kennedy committee.
The matters raised by Deputies Rabbitte, McManus, Connaughton and Ulick Burke have been selected for discussion.