Seanad debates

Wednesday, 15 April 2015

2:30 pm

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I welcome Councillor Lacey to the Gallery.

I have received notice from Senator Fidelma Healy Eames that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, she proposes to raise the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to recognise the inequities arising for Galway second level students with dyslexia and a language exemption, particularly girls, and their lack of access to six subjects in second level schools to enable them to achieve maximum points in the leaving certificate examination and to seek a solution to same.
I have also received notice from Senator Lorraine Higgins of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Education and Skills to outline what further steps she will take to ensure fairness in the promotion procedures at the National University of Ireland, Galway.
I have also received notice from Senator Gerard P. Craughwell of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Social Protection to discuss PRSI contributions for local representatives, that is, city and county councillors.
I have also received notice from Senator Jillian van Turnhout of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to outline the Government's plan to ensure continued funding to national organisations which provide coalface services to disadvantaged target groups, in light of the commitment to inform the relevant health, disability and other organisations which are on temporary bridging funds of the review outcome in relation to the support scheme for national organisations by 31 March 2015.
I regard the matters raised by Senators Healy Eames, Higgins and Craughwell as suitable for discussion and they will be taken now. I regret that I have had to rule out of order the matter raised by Senator van Turnhout on the grounds that it involves a repeat of the reply to a similar Commencement Matter on 1 April.