Fine Gael Clare Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Justice, Disability and Equality, Martin Conway, today (Monday) said he fully supports the Irish Water Safety (IWS) in its call for the public to avoid using unsupervised bathing areas.

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has today (Monday) welcomed the allocation of almost €275,000 in funding to Roscommon and Leitrim County Councils under a €50 million energy efficiency programme aimed at improving local authority homes.

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny announced today (22 July 2013) the publication of a new Government Policy Statement on Sectoral Economic Regulation – ‘Regulating for a Better Future’.

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he, directly or in unison with his EU colleagues, can address the issue of cyber-bullying...

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the full scale of anticipated modern high-speed broadband services are likely to become available in all regions throughout the country...

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his expectations in regard to the development of the wind energy sector...

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the extent to which he, directly or in unison with his EU colleagues, can address the issue of cyber-bullying...

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when the full scale of anticipated modern high-speed broadband services are likely to become available in all regions throughout the country...

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his expectations in regard to the development of the wind energy sector...

I thank the Minister of State for taking this debate. The decision by the Department of Social Protection to issue a new tender this coming September for paying social welfare benefits could, if implemented, see the closure of up to 400 post offices. This would have a devastating effect on rural communities. Bank branches in rural areas have already closed. I am concerned that this will continue not only in many villages, but also in substantial towns. It is possible that, within a few years, bank branches will only be located in cities and large provincial towns.