Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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I have notice from Senator Martin Conway that, on the motion for the Commencement of the House today, he proposes to raise the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government to review the legislation governing the refund of rates to property owners in urban centres where retail outlets have left large vacant sites and are making no effort to develop or rent them.

I have also received notice from Senator Paul Coghlan of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to make a statement on the situation regarding the indigenous red deer and the Japanese sika deer in the Kerry area, particularly in the vicinity of Killarney National Park.

I have also received notice from Senator Rose Conway-Walsh of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Health to outline the measures he will take to tackle the waiting list for orthopaedic surgery at Merlin Park University Hospital, given that surgeons are currently working through a backlog stretching back to 2013.

I have also received notice from Senator Keith Swanick of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Health to initiate a full review of services provided by St. John of God north-east services at the St. Mary's centre in Drumcar, County Louth.

I have also received notice from Senator Jennifer Murnane O'Connor of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to discuss the European Commission's recent proposals for revising the renewable energy directive in respect of low emissions mobility.

I have also received notice from Senator Robbie Gallagher of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to advise whether 90% funding will be made available to the Milltown group sewerage scheme in County Monaghan in light of the potential environmental benefits of such funding for the River Blackwater catchment, and to state when in 2017 the rural water allocation can be expected.

I have also received notice from Senator Tim Lombard of the following matter:

The need for the Minister for Health to provide an update on the distribution and uptake figures in respect of the free meningitis B vaccination programme and to consider the proposed backdating vaccinations for children outside the original timeframe.

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

The need for the Minister for Social Protection to clarify the future role of more than 300 people who are employed in the local employment service in view of the significant decrease in their workload because of the increase in full employment for those who were previously long-term unemployed.

I regard the matters raised by the Senators as suitable for discussion. I have selected Senators Conway, Coghlan, Conway-Walsh and Swanick and they will be taken now. Senators Murnane O'Connor, Gallagher, Lombard and Colm Burke may give notice on another day of the matters they wish to raise.