I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 27A and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Sean Fleming — the plans to downgrade Portlaoise hospital to change the emergency department to a medical assessment unit only, which is appropriate to a model 2 local hospital, the fact that there are to be no intensive care units in model 2 hospitals, and if the Minister and the HSE will reverse this decision given that Portlaoise has one of the busiest emergency departments in the country; (2) Deputy Catherine Murphy — the notification by the HSE that it will not fund the operation of the only centre specialising in domestic violence in Kildare, Teach Tearmainn. The new purpose-built centre was funded by the HSE and caters for the whole of County Kildare which is now the fourth most populated county, with 209,000 people. There is a particularly young demographic. This decision comes at a time when refuges generally are experiencing a huge increase in the demand for their services. To have a building that could provide a measure of safety to women and children and not be in beneficial use can surely not be justified as a good use of the millions it cost to build; (3) Deputy James Bannon — the need for the Minister for Education and Skills to give urgent consideration to designating Longford as the headquarters of the County Longford and County Westmeath amalgamated VECs, in light of its prime location and the significant capital investment by the Department of Education and Skills in VEC infrastructure in Longford over the past two years; (4) Deputy Michael Healy-Rae — up to 200 Garda stations could face closure after this year's budget as the Government looks to cut funding. The Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, has asked chief superintendents throughout the country to draw up a list of stations that could be closed as the force prepares for Government cuts to its budget. It is thought that the stations most likely to be closed are those manned by a single officer in rural areas. County Donegal is expected see a significant number of closures, with up to 24 stations being earmarked due to the number of small and part-time Garda stations there. There are 240 one-man Garda stations nationwide out of a total of just over 700 stations. The proposed closures come at a time when Garda Síochána ranks are on the verge of a significant drop-off. Membership within the force is facing a large fall as the rate of retirement increases combined with the suspension of Garda recruitment. Garda numbers have already fallen by 500 to about 14,000, and an estimated 1,200 members have 30 years of service and are entitled to take early retirement immediately. A recent report by RTE's "Prime Time" has warned that 8% of Garda stations will be left without a permanent garda if all those who are eligible to retire do so by next February. The report also went on to say that in excess of 10% of stations could be left with no permanent sergeants and that some Garda stations and specialist units face potential losses at every rank. Almost 1,200 gardaí, 8% of all ranks, can leave before next February. If they do not leave, their pensions will be reduced and gratuities taxed. If this were to happen, 39 stations would not have a permanent sergeant while 51 would not have a permanent Garda presence making closures inevitable. Thirty three out of the 44 chief superintendents can retire early at any time which could lead to a significant lack of seniority within the force. Closing stations could be a politically sensitive move by the Government which is under pressure from the electorate owing to cuts in public spending since it took office; (5) Deputy Nicky McFadden — the emergency department in Midlands Regional Hospital, Mullingar; (6) Deputy Joe McHugh — the closure this autumn of the Irish Post newspaper, which has maintained a link between this island and its 19,000 Irish readers in Britain, and which has maintained links between the various Irish groups in Britain; (7) Deputy Robert Troy — the future of Columb Barracks, Mullingar; (8) Deputy Dan Neville — the increase by 4% to 11,966 of presentations to hospital due to deliberate self-harm nationally; (9) Deputy Michael McNamara — health care issues in Raheen Hospital, County Clare; (10) Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn — the impact on community safety of the proposed closure of more than 200 Garda stations, particularly in smaller rural communities such as those in County Donegal which may lose up to 24 Garda stations according to media reports; (11) Deputy Patrick O’Donovan — the need for the HSE to re-examine the decision to close respite beds in St. Ita’s Community Hospital, Newcastle West and St. Camillus’s Hospital, Limerick; (12) Deputy Pearse Doherty — to discuss the impact on community safety of the proposed closure of more than 200 Garda stations, particularly in smaller rural communities such as those in County Donegal which may lose up to 24 Garda stations according to media reports; (13) Deputy Jim Daly — the need to reform the rates system to encourage new SMEs; (14) Deputy Brendan Griffin — the need for individual jobs plans for all regions in the country; (15) Deputy Jerry Buttimer — the roll-out of real time passenger information for bus users outside of Dublin; (16) Deputy Billy Kelleher — to ask the Minister for Health to make a statement on the four hour stoppage taking place today at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Limerick by members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and their call on the Minister to address their concerns about bed closures, budget cuts and a moratorium on staff recruitment; (17) Deputy Dara Calleary — to ask the Minister for Health what measures are being taken to ensure the recent decision by HSE west to write off €6 million owed to it by insurance companies due to the failure of consultants to fill out claims forms properly does not occur again; (18) Deputy Willie O’Dea — to ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation what steps are being taken to tackle the major problems arising from the lack of credit available to small and medium-sized enterprises; (19) Deputy Timmy Dooley — the need to outline the Government’s position at the UN on the recognition of a Palestinian state; and (20) Deputy Clare Daly — the matter arising from the revelations last night on “Prime Time” on RTE regarding the likelihood of severe job losses in Aviva insurance.
The matters raised by Deputies Jim Daly, Brendan Griffin, Michael McNamara and Robert Troy have been selected for discussion.