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 Joanna Tuffy — to ask the Minister for Education and Skills about the urgent need to maintain community employment schemes and job initiatives schemes in Clondalkin and for the Minister to make a statement on the matter; (2) Deputy Paul Kehoe — that the cuts by the Department of Education and Skills affecting the number of special needs assistants allocated to schools working with children with autism in specialised units be reversed; a large public march was held in Enniscorthy, County Wexford last weekend as parents and members of the local community are incensed by the cuts affecting the most vulnerable in society and depriving them of the right to equality in education; (3) Deputy James Bannon — the need for the Minister for Justice and Law Reform to ensure that a person who is severely brain damaged following a car accident and requires urgent treatment will be transferred to the care of the Department of Health; (4) Deputy Jimmy Deenihan — the urgency to issue 51 temporary fishing licences to trawlers along the south west coast to allow them time to comply with a C.O.C. brought in by Noel Dempsey in 2007, as these fishermen are unable to fish at the moment and are not eligible for social welfare; (5) Deputy Joan Burton — issues relating to defined benefit pensions and pension funds; (6) Deputy Denis Naughten — the issue of Garda clearance for FÁS community employment participants working with elderly health care services; (7) Deputy Thomas P. Broughan — the application of law relating to an ongoing matter, details supplied; (8) Deputy Brian O'Shea — the need for training grants to foster job creation in the tree servicing industry; and (9) Deputy Joe Costello — the importance of the community and voluntary sector.
The matters raised by Deputies Brian O'Shea, Denis Naughten, Joan Burton and Joe Costello have been selected for discussion.