Fine Gael Dublin Senator, Catherine Noone, has today (Tuesday) encouraged families to claim the home carers’ tax credit, where one spouse is staying at home to care for children or elderly relatives. Senator Noone noted that the tax credit available to home carers was increased in the recent Budget.

Fine Gael MEP, Brian Hayes has called on all Irish MEPs to back the Passenger Name Record Directive. The Directive requires passenger information collected by airlines to be shared with all EU police forces.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey said that 5 schools in Waterford are to benefit from funding under a multi-million euro school building programme. “Today the Government is unveiling a major school building programme, which involves funding for St Martin’s Special School, Ballytruckle; Glor Na Mara, Tramore; Newtown School, Waterford City; Blackwater Community College, Lismore; and Waterpark College, Waterford City.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey , has said that farmers across Waterford will benefit from a relaxation of farm inspections announced yesterday (Monday) by the European Commission.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said the number of people employed in the South East Region has increased to a 7 year high according to latest figures released by the CSO. There are now 207,400 people in work in the Region an increase of over 22,000 people since Fine Gael and Labour were elected to office in 2011.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey, has encouraged Waterford Council tenants, as well as Local Authority tenants across the country, to consider the new tenant purchase scheme as a route to home ownership.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has strongly welcomed the news that Copper Coast Geopark has been designated a Unesco Global Geopark at a recent conference in Paris.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said comments made by Fianna Fail’s Director of Elections means that they have now ruled themselves out of the next government. Minister Coffey said that Fine Gael wants to be returned to government so that the Universal Social Charge is abolished and that we return Ireland to Full-Employment by 2018.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said “The Finance Bill announced that employers will be able to gift vouchers of up to €500, tax free and today (Friday) it was confirmed that this measure has come into effect and will apply to all voucher purchased since 22nd October”

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, Jerry Buttimer, has demanded an explanation as to why Cork City Council has not used all of the housing funding allocated to it.