I have received notice from Senator Marc MacSharry that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure emergency funding is made available to Leitrim and Donegal County Councils for the urgent and essential upgrade of Lennox Bridge, the main artery connecting Kinlough to Bundoran and Ballyshannon, and Four Masters Bridge in County Leitrim.
I have also received notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to discuss the effectiveness of high-occupancy vehicles, with three or more persons, being allowed to use bus lanes in Galway city and to consider implementing same.
I have also received notice from Senator Marie Moloney of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to consider erecting a fence in Killarney National Park in the vicinity of Ballydowney to prevent deer from accessing the road where a number of accidents and near misses have occurred.
I have also received notice from Senator Michael D'Arcy of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline his position on the new cystic fibrosis drug Orkami.
I have also received notice from Senator Denis Landy of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Defence to make part of the vacant Army barracks in Mullingar available to the Irish United Nations Veterans Association through a long-term lease so as to ensure a permanent meeting place for retired soldiers.
I have also received notice from Senator Mary Moran of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to discuss the allocation of funding to carry out essential emergency works at St. Oliver’s national school, Dundalk Street, Carlingford, County Louth.
I have also received notice from Senator Lorraine Higgins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate a starting date for the construction of Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha in Tuam, County Galway.
I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to allocate funds to local authorities for house adaption works and to ensure, when the funds are allocated, local authorities will have absolute discretion in deciding the amounts to be allocated for local authority and private housing.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Marc MacSharry, Fidelma Healy Eames, Marie Moloney and Michael D’Arcy and they will be taken now. Senators Denis Landy, Mary Moran, Lorraine Higgins and Colm Burke may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.