We have a quorum and I call the meeting to order. Apologies have been received from Senator Ciaran Cannon. The minutes of the meeting of 23 January 2008 have been circulated. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. Is it agreed that no matter arises from them? Agreed.
Correspondence received since the previous meeting has been circulated to Members. No. 60 is a statement of strategy for 2008 to 2010 from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I suggest we note the correspondence. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next item is from the press office of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with regard to the boundary committee in Limerick city. Is it agreed that we note the correspondence? Agreed. After our previous meeting we wrote to the Minister requesting details of other proposals for boundary changes. We will bring this correspondence to the meeting when we receive it.
No. 62 is a press office statement from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government with regard to house completions. We have all seen it and we will note it.
The next item is the national waste report from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. It was issued some time ago and we should note it. I am sure we will return to this topic during the course of the year.
The next item is the newsletter issued by GLOBE Europe with regard to global climate change and I suggest we note it. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The next item is a single copy of a newsletter from the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism. I suggest we note it and members may borrow it from the clerk if they wish.
No. 66 is a letter from Biocycle Limited lobbying members with regard to complaints about a waste water treatment system. We can note the letter but we should not involve ourselves in serious allegations. Biocycle Limited is an organisation which provides a proprietary treatment system for septic tanks. I have heard of it in my county. It makes a number of complaints about misleading certification. I suspect all Members of the Oireachtas received a copy of the letter. I received it as Chairman of this committee. Perhaps we will forward it to the Minister for his comments and study his response when we receive same. Is that agreed? Agreed. I am sure people will be interested in this matter.
The final item of correspondence is a letter and policy paper from the Institute of Public Health in Ireland regarding fuel poverty. I suggest we note it. I am sure it has already been circulated by the organisation concerned to the other relevant Oireachtas committee. This concludes our consideration of correspondence.
We discussed a draft work programme prior to Christmas. Since then we received a request from Deputy Christy O'Sullivan to include the new departmental schemes covering the housing adaptation grant scheme for people with disabilities, the mobility aids grant scheme and housing aid for older people. The main complaint I hear is that a form which was one page long is now ten pages long. We will include the matter in our work programme as a change has been made. It is also intended to bring the housing aid for the elderly scheme, which was operated by the HSE, under the aegis of local authorities. I understand it is a slightly more generous grant but it will be means tested. Do members wish to comment?