I have received notice from Senator Colm Burke that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to review the current pupil-teacher ratio with a view to reducing the number of pupils from 56 to 53 in order to facilitate smaller schools in retaining a third teacher.
I have also received notice from Senator Kathryn Reilly of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to discuss why a child (details supplied) has been refused a special needs assistant, despite having been recommended previously for one, and what interventions can be made to ensure this child will have adequate classroom assistance for the upcoming year, given his reintegration into a mainstream classroom.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Coghlan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to outline the position on the remit of the Property Services Regulatory Authority in view of the concerns of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers about the significant number of unlicensed auctioneers in practice throughout the State.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Bradford of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to examine the planning restrictions on the building of new houses adjoining national secondary roads arising from the National Roads Authority's roads policy and indicate if he is aware of the detrimental impact on farm families where family members who wish to work on the home farm cannot obtain planning permission.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion and they will be taken now.