I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters: Senator Shane Cassells - The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for sport to make a statement on discussions between the Irish and UK Governments, and the Northern Ireland Executive in respect of the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in Belfast.
Senator Micheál Carrigy – The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the provision of additional special school places for children in County Longford.
Senator Tom Clonan - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the status of children on waiting lists for urological surgery and interventional urological procedures at Children’s Health Ireland, CHI; and whether CHI and the HSE are in breach of EU requirements to provide such services to disabled Irish children and adolescents.
Senator Fiona O’Loughlin - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the impact the proposed changes to the funding of hair, wig and scalp therapies will have on alopecia patients.
Senator Lynn Boylan - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to update the building regulations to increase the share of timber-framed buildings and new building technologies in order to reduce emissions.
Senator Maria Byrne - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the waiting times for approved housing bodies to complete sales under the tenant in situ scheme.
Senator Malcolm Byrne - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to make a statement on the use of schools as the primary venue for polling centres in elections and referendums, and if alternatives could be considered.
Senator Lisa Chambers - The need for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to make a statement on the financial supports to be made available to assist tourism businesses in County Mayo, which have experienced a drop in footfall and revenue due to the reduction in tourist accommodation available in the county as a result of it being used for humanitarian purposes.
Senator Regina Doherty - The need for the Minister for Education to increase school bus transportation capacity to link rural villages in Fingal with urban centres such as Swords and Lusk.
Senator Sharon Keogan - The need for the Minister of Health to re-open the recruitment campaign for a full-time GP and other healthcare professionals at the Swanlinbar Health Centre in order to retain and strengthen the capacity and resilience of the GP services within this district of County Cavan.
Senator John Cummins - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to extend the waiver on development contributions, and water and wastewater connection charges, for a further year and to apply the waiver scheme to vacant and derelict properties.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the current position and status of the N2 Castleblayney to Ardee road project.
Senator Paul Gavan - The need for the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications to make a statement on the deposit return scheme and disability access to the reverse vending machines located in stores.
Senator Emer Currie - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the need for a bus service from Dublin 15 to Dublin Airport.
Of the matters raised by the Senators suitable for discussion, I have selected Senators Cassells, Carrigy, Clonan, O'Loughlin and Maria Byrne, and they will be taken now. I regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Gallagher on the ground that it is a repeat of a Commencement matter raised in November 2023. I also regret that I had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator Currie 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.