I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Seán Kyne - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to outline when local authorities will be notified of decisions on their applications under the funding scheme targeting the wastewater collection and treatment needs of unserviced towns and villages, particularly in Galway. Senator Micheál Carrigy - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to provide funding to Longford County Council for the period 2024 to 2026 to compensate for the loss of commercial rates due to the closure of Lough Ree Power Station. Senators Robbie Gallagher and Denis O'Donovan - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the retained fire service, in particular in the context of pay, conditions and recruitment and the planned industrial action.
Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Education to ensure that schoolchildren can apply for assistive technology grants in the absence of the required reports from a children's disability network team, and to outline the supports in place within schools to enable them to conduct a detailed assessment of handwriting speed test. Senator Barry Ward - An gá atá ann, maidir leis an Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán leanúnachas sa chomharthaíocht sráide as Gaeilge a chinntiú. Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on proposals to ensure parity in pay, terms and conditions between staff in section 39 and section 38 organisations in the health service. Senator Tim Lombard - The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the process in place for the ongoing review of the scheme of reasonable accommodations at certificate examinations. Of the matters suitable for discussion, I have selected those raised by Senators Seán Kyne, Micheál Carrigy, Robbie Gallagher and Denis O'Donovan, who are sharing time, and Marie Sherlock, and they will be taken now. I regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Barry Ward on the ground that the Minister has no official responsibility in the matter. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.