I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given to me under Standing Order 20 and the name of the Member in each case: Deputy Sheehan — when recipients of joint British and Irish old age pensions will receive an increase in their present rate of Irish old age pension to compensate them for the variation in the pound sterling against the punt over the past six months; Deputy J. Higgins—the failure of the Minister for Education to make available to the House the number of qualified teachers of art, music and physical education in certain categories of post-primary schools in reply to a parliamentary question; Deputy Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny)— the subject of Parliamentary Question No. 50 of Wednesday 17 February 1993, namely, the discrimination against gardaí who retired prior to 1 October 1982 in not having their rent allowance considered for pension purposes; Deputy Flaherty — the delays in implementing travellers' refurbishment and housing at Avila Park and Dunsink Lane, especially in view of the recent fatal fire at Dunsink and a number of fires at Avilla Park; Deputy J. O'Keeffe — the tragic death of Concern volunteer, nurse Valerie Place, in Somalia; Deputy Sargent—the reason the Minister for the Environment approved contract documents for the section of the Northern Cross Route including the Ballymun interchange before the completion of the process of study, consultation and appropriate measures agreed between his Department, the European Commission, Dublin Corporation and Dublin County Council in relation to the Ballymun interchange; Deputy Kitt — the question of allowing medical cards as of right to the handicapped; Deputy Ahern — The need for a new school premises at Scoil Chríost Rí, Dundalk, County Louth; Deputy Gregory — the slaughter of 51 hares at the Irish Coursing Cup Meeting at Clounanna over the weekend of 19 to 21 February, 1993, inclusive, and the damage this cruel activity is doing to Ireland's image abroad; Deputy Deenihan — if the Minister for Health will make the necessary finance available to the Southern Health Board to appoint a third surgeon at Tralee General Hospital as the surgical waiting list now stands at 1,100 which is one of the highest in the country; Deputy Shatter — the killing of 51 hares at the hare coursing meeting held in Clounanna and whether the Minister intends to order an investigation to determine why such a large number of hares were killed to determine whether there was a breach of the applicable rules; Deputy Ahearn — the decision by the South Eastern Health Board to remove orthopaedic trauma surgery from Our Lady's Hospital in Cashel and the illogicality of this decision when at present there is an 18-month waiting list for appointments with orthopaedic specialists in Cashel; Deputy Yates — the issue of the provision of suitable accommodation for staff of the Departments of Social Welfare and Finance in Wexford town and the need to provide new buildings in this regard as a matter of urgency, in view of the current industrial action which is affecting services from both offices; Deputy Brennan — the absence of clerical staff to process applications for payment in the Farm Development Service Office in Sligo, in view of the fact that 150 farmers are at present awaiting grant payment and the delay is causing great hardship to them.
I have selected for discussion the matters raised by Deputies Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny), Michael Kitt and Jim Higgins.