Mr Phil Hogan, T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced today (17 October 2013) the publication of the Local Government Bill 2013 to fundamentally reform the local government system in Ireland.

Submissions made at local level were invaluable in feeding into Advisory Group for Small Business.

Simon Harris TD, has today (Wednesday) described the second disruption in just three days to rush hour commuters as unacceptable and has called on Irish Rail to immediately review how it deals with a crisis on the DART line, to start communicating with its customers, and to put a halt to its new policy of four carriage trains during rush hour.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the devolved grant to a school Loreto Primary School, Rathfarnham, Dubin 14 (roll number 00729F) will be anticipated; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if it is his intention that Ireland would host a local division of the Unified Patent Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Fine Gael Meath West TD, Ray Butler, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the pro-business measures contained in the 2014 Budget, saying the €500 million jobs stimulus package will help to support Meath’s economic recovery. Deputy Butler also noted that Chambers Ireland has given a very positive response to the Budget.

Fine Gael TD for Waterford Paudie Coffey, has said that Budget 2014 will protect the incomes of family farms, support small farm holdings in disadvantaged areas and invest in the future of the national suckler cow herd.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has welcomed the engagement made by small and medium business community in Dun Laoghaire in the run up to the framing of Budget 2014.

“The attempts to agree cost reduction measures at Dublin Bus have clearly been long and difficult, the process having started in June 2012.