I have received notice from Senator Hildegarde Naughton that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to outline the readiness of the national flood defence programme in consideration of the record tides forecast for the west coast later this month.
I have also received notice from Senator Marc MacSharry of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the beef genomics scheme in consultation with suckler cow farmers to make it more workable for them and to ensure its implementation maintains the quality of weanling production for smaller farmers in the north west.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Bradford of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to reflect fully on all issues concerning the suggested merger of Cork City and County Councils and if he will ensure a full and inclusive debate takes place before final decisions are made.
I have also received notice from Senator Terry Leyden of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to provide funding of an estimated €13 million for the development of a new 50-bed single occupancy facility with en suite toilet and shower facilities at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Roscommon.
I have also received notice from Senator David Cullinane of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health, in respect of Waterford city and county, to provide a breakdown of waiting times for assessments, including diagnostic assessments for children with mild to profound physical and intellectual disabilities, and the numbers of speech, language and occupational therapy posts, in addition to child psychologist posts, and to outline how many child psychologist and therapy posts in the public system are vacant and the steps he will take to reduce assessment waiting times.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Hildegarde Naughton, Marc MacSharry, Paul Bradford and Terry Leyden and they will be taken now. Senator David Cullinane may give notice on another day of the matter he wishes to raise.