Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Before coming to the Order of Business, I propose to deal with a number of notices under Standing Order 31.

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the fact that, with one garda for every 558 people, the Carlow-Kildare Garda division has the lowest ratio of gardaí to population in the State; that serious crime in the Carlow-Kildare division has risen by 55% since 2000; that, at 30%, the detection rate in the division is one of the lowest in the State; that there is no Garda barracks in Leixlip and that there is no 24 hour Garda barracks in Celbridge, Maynooth or Leixlip, which have a combined population of 45,324; and the refusal of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to take effective action on the issues outlined, citing operational matters as his reason.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the decision by the Minister for Education and Science to withdraw the home-school-community liaison scheme from Athenry and Loughrea vocational schools in County Galway and many other schools nationwide; whether the Minister is aware of the bridge that the scheme has built between the schools in question and the many dysfunctional families who need all the help they can get to keep their children at school, thereby helping to reduce anti-social behaviour; and to call on her to expand this vital scheme rather than have it terminated.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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I wish to seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to raise a matter of national importance, namely, the proposed transfer of patients and services of St. Lukes Hospital, Rathgar, to St. James Hospital on an incremental basis to conclude in 2011. The loss to patients of support buildings and services that were built up by cancer survivors or families of former patients over a period of decades is a blow to those who wish to create a less stressful environment for patients. It is difficult to understand the referral of 20,000 additional patients to St. James's Hospital, which is currently overstretched and for which additional clinical staff, although sought, have not been provided. The Minister for Health and Children should outline the rationale for such a radical move given the proven track record of this hospital.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate a matter of major national and local importance, namely, why the Minister for Finance, Deputy Cowen, on the basis of information available to him from monitoring committee reports, including assessments of continuing spend under the national development plan, expects the original forecasts for Exchequer and EU spending in the BMW region will have been realised in full by the end of the programme period in six weeks' time while there remains a €3.75 billion underspend, with a €500 million underspend on roads. On the question of motorways and dual carriageways planned for 2010, no mention is made of the N5, N26, N4, N2, N14 and N3, and only 20% of EU co-funded projects can be financed beyond 2006.

Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle)
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Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.