Seanad debates

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

2:30 pm

Photo of Paddy BurkePaddy Burke (Fine Gael)
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I have notice from Senator Lorraine Higgins 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 provide an update on the progress of the proposed new school building for Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha in Tuam, County Galway.
I have also received notice from Senator John Whelan of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources to address the delay in establishing a renewable heat incentive under the bioenergy strategy, which is currently militating against biomass heating equipment and therefore is counter-productive in terms of our renewable energy policy and investment and impeding the objective of meeting our 2020 national renewable energy action plan targets.
I have also received notice from Senator Thomas Byrne of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to publish acceptable wind turbine guidelines and to ensure that they will be applicable to projects currently before An Bord Pleanála.
I have also received notice from Senator David Cullinane of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for Health to outline how many speech and language therapist and clinical psychologist posts exist in the public system in Waterford city and county, how many are vacant, how many of the 80 posts announced last year were allocated to Waterford and how many of the additional 120 posts will be allocated to Waterford and to outline waiting times for an assessment for children referred with a mild to severe intellectual or physical disability and children with complex needs.
I have also received notice from Senator Mark Daly of the following matter:
The need for the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to give an assurance that the Government will continue funding the national deaf advocacy service of the Irish Deaf Society and the 26 other organisations which were subject to cuts in funding last year.
I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected the matters raised by Senators Higgins, Whelan, Byrne and Cullinane and they will be taken now. Senator Daly may give notice on another day of the matter he wishes to raise.