Paddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I have received notice from Senator Marc MacSharry that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:

The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to acknowledge the total inadequacy of funding for smaller local authorities, including Sligo, noting that larger authorities with surplus requirements have up to €100 million on deposit, and to outline an emergency plan for the provision of additional resources for Sligo County Council.

I have also received notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the appeals process and safeguards for students under the new proposed teacher assessment model for the junior certificate in the event of a grade dispute, and to consider paying teachers a stipend to carry out the assessment role.

I have also received notice from Senator David Cullinane of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to give an update on the status of the technical university for the south east and outline what, if any, steps have been taken to advance the project since the withdrawal of Waterford Institute of Technology from the process.

I have also received notice from Senator Tom Sheahan of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to give a commencement date for the introduction of fibre-optic broadband for Dingle, County Kerry.

I have also received notice from Senator Colm Burke of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to clarify the current position on the introduction of legislation which will allow the courts to grant periodic payments to those who have suffered injury as a result of medical negligence.

I have also received notice from Senator John Kelly of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to provide funding to rural mens clubs and rural mens’ shed projects.

I have also received notice from Senator Thomas Byrne of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Health, the HSE, and other statutory agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Irish Water, to investigate a cluster of cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome in east County Meath.

I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion and I have selected those of Senators MacSharry, Healy Eames, Cullinane and Sheahan and they will be taken now.

Senators Burke, Kelly and Byrne may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.