I have received notice from Senator Jerry Buttimer that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to address the funding shortfall at Togher family support centre in Cork and to outline the plans her Department is putting in place to rectify this matter.
I have also received notice from Senator Paul Gavan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister of State with special responsibility for defence to make a statement on the amount of money being spent on the purchase of new ships for the Irish Naval Service.
I have also received notice from Senator Aidan Davitt of the following matter:
The need for the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to address the direct threats to Irish foreign direct investment and jobs growth due to domestic policy decisions, the housing crisis and the current planning process system that are making Ireland an uncompetitive jurisdiction for retaining our current foreign direct investment footprint and attracting new investment.
I have also received notice from Senator Maria Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide emergency funding for the repair of the Olympic swimming pool in the University of Limerick.
I have also received notice from Senator Victor Boyhan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to confirm the number of fast-track applications submitted to An Bord Pleanála in 2017; the number of housing units involved; the number of applications granted under the scheme; and if An Bord Pleanála is ready to roll out an IT interface with the public in terms of online submissions.
I have also received notice from Senator Frank Feighan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline the number of former miners who worked in Arigna and in other mines who have availed of disablement benefit due to work-related illness; and whether there are enough resources currently available to expedite existing applications from former miners seeking disablement benefit.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Buttimer, Gavan and Davitt and they will be taken now. Senator Byrne has withdrawn her commencement matter which I had selected. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.