The Ceann Comhairle wishes to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to him under Standing Order 20 (3) (a) and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Spring — the question of extending the school transport system to Ballyrobert Cross, County Kerry, to accommodate children attending Ardfert national school, County Kerry; Deputy Deenihan — the refusal by the Minister for Education, to grant recognition to Baile an Locaigh portion of Colaiste Pheig Sayers, Ballyferriter, County Kerry; Deputy Boylan — the plight of old age pensioners who are in receipt of pensions from overseas and which have not been delivered due to the postal dispute and the steps being taken to alleviate the hardship being experienced by those people; An Teachta McGinley — chun iarraidh ar an Aire Funnimh diultú glan don mholadh atá curtha faoina bhráid ag Bord Soláthair an Leictreachais staisiún ginte aibhléise Ghaoth Dobhair a dhunadh agus gach dícheall a dhéanamh 25 post sa staisiún agus slí beatha 160 connraitheoir mónadh a chosaint; Deputy Gilmore — the request by 40 students at the College of Marketing and Design that the Minister for Education investigate the refusal to grant degree status to their course; Deputies Byrne and De Rossa — the escalation of the postal dispute arising from the suspension of a further 600 members of staff; Deputy Connor — the widespread fear of serious damage to the environment including fear of pollution of the upper Shannon catchment as a result of the dumping of 10,000 tons of fire damaged meat at Strokestown, County Roscommon; the advice his Department have given in this regard and the ongoing interest, if any, his Department have in this problem; Deputy Sheehan — the serious situation with the condition of the present Clonakilty boys' national school and if the Minister for Education will state the steps he is taking to provide a new national school for the pupils concerned; Deputy T. Ahearn — the serious escalation in the postal dispute and the urgent need for action to avoid hardship to people and to prevent danger to our economy; Deputy J. Higgins — the urgent need for the Minister for Education to intervene in a situation where 39 students at the College of Marketing and Design have been informed, within two weeks of their final examination, that despite clear and explicit commitments that they would be awarded diplomas and a possible degree, neither will now be awarded; Deputy Finucane—if the Minister for Finance is aware that owing to the postal strike no cheques are being issued for VAT refunds, income tax refunds, etc., from the Dublin office and if he will ensure that these cheques are issued to the regional offices for distribution; Deputy Creed — the serious threat to employment and the rural environment as a result of the Minister's decision to suspend the scheme for the control of farmyard pollution; Deputy Owen — the matter of a UK old age pensioner (details supplied) who has not received a pension during the postal strike and the difficulties caused by this.
The Ceann Comhairle has selected for discussion the matters raised by Deputies: McGinley, Ahearn and Spring.