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 Finian McGrath – the urgent need for more investment in our health services to reduce waiting lists and ward closures; (2) Deputy Shortall – the urgent need to upgrade the sub-standard accommodation at Beneavin De La Salle College, Finglas, Dublin 11; (3) Deputy Gogarty – the need to re-introduce money-back bottles and introduce money-back cans to reduce litter and therefore assist the promotion of Ireland as a clean destination; (4) Deputy O'Connor – the need to ascertain if the Tánaiste is reconsidering the decision to reduce the number of places available on community employment schemes, particularly having regard to the challenges being created for community and voluntary groups; (5) Deputy Hogan – the need for the Minister for Education and Science to retain full funding for the stay in school retention initiative at Coláiste Mhuire, Johnstown, County Kilkenny, until the completion of the programme in 2004-05; (6) Deputy Crawford – the steps being taken to regulate the staff shortages in the Department of Agriculture and Food offices in Cavan-Monaghan and other areas; and (7) Deputy Brendan Smith – the need to review and amend the regulations pertaining to the disabled persons and essential repairs grants schemes.
The matters raised by Deputies Shortall, Hogan, Gogarty and Brendan Smith have been selected for discussion.