I welcome Senator Howard Pearl and his wife Heather to the Distinguished Visitors' Gallery. They have come all the way from New Hampshire to be with us. They missed out on our 100th anniversary celebration by one day. They are more than welcome.
I have received notice from the following Senators that they propose to raise the following matters:
Senator Eugene Murphy - The need for the Minister for Social Protection to make a statement on the continued provision of the hot school meals programme.
Senator Lisa Chambers - The need for the Minister for Transport to make a statement on the exclusion of the western rail corridor in the updated EU trans-European transport network map and the timeline for the publishing of the all-island strategic rail review.
Senator Maria Byrne - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on the waiting lists for child mental health appointments in Limerick.
Senator Tim Lombard - The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the proposal for a second school of veterinary medicine.
Senator Mark Wall - The need for the Minister for Education to make a statement on the provision of additional secondary school places in the Newbridge and Kildare town areas of south Kildare for the school year beginning September 2023.
Senator Marie Sherlock - The need for the Minister for Education to provide an update on the review of the after-hours use of school buildings.
Senator John Cummins - The need for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the maximum market value of properties which can be purchased with the assistance of the local authority home loan mortgage.
Senator Martin Conway - The need for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to make a statement on the payment of employer grants under the apprentice grant system when administrative errors have occurred.
Senator Robbie Gallagher - The need for the Minister of State with responsibility for disability to provide an update on the removal of transport charges for HSE service users in the community healthcare organisation 1 area.
Senator Emer Currie - The need for the Minister for Health to make a statement on Ukrainian doctors working in Ireland.
The matters raised by the Senators are suitable for discussion and I have selected Senators Murphy, Chambers, Maria Byrne, Lombard, Wall and Sherlock and they will be taken now. The other Senators may give notice on another day of the matters that they wish to raise.