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 Sargent – the need to explain the failure to provide wildlife rangers in many counties, including County Dublin, where the situation has never been worse in terms of wildlife protection and the need to resolve this; (2) Deputy Tom Hayes – the need to clarify when financial approval will be given for the construction of the top floor 23 bed ward at St. Joseph's Hospital, when approval will be given for the building of the permanent CAT scan facility at the hospital and when approval will be given for the roof works and the on-call residential unit at St. Joseph's Hospital; (3) Deputy Rabbitte – the urgent need for the Minister to address the reduction in funding provided to the St. John of God Order this year which is resulting in huge hardship for parents and carers, particularly those who rely on the Menni services provided at the Islandbridge centre, Dublin 8; (4) Deputy Hogan – the need for the Minister for Education and Science to clarify reports of alleged child abuse not being properly investigated by his officials and to state if he is satisfied that there is full co- operation between his Department and the Laffoy Commission.
The matters raised by Deputies Hogan, Tom Hayes and Rabbitte have been selected for discussion.