Fine Gael Dublin South Deputy, Olivia Mitchell TD, today (Monday) welcomed yesterday's announcement by the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring, of nearly €500,000 in funding for sports projects in Dublin South, the first round of sports capital funding in four years.

The Youth Media and the Irish Presidency (YMIP) initiative aims to recruit 25 young communicators between the ages of 18 to 25 to report on Ireland's Presidency of the EU Council from January to June 2013.

Question to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government The response he has received from industry stakeholders regarding the repair of homes affected by pyrite; the contact that has been made with all stakeholders named by him for those who have not engaged with his Department to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal Alan Farrell has today (Friday) welcomed confirmation that pyrite homes will be granted a waiver from the Local Property Tax. The issue is to be addressed in the context of the Finance Bill by the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD.

I accept this is probably not the best time to be introducing a property tax. That it is based on market value means it will clearly be slightly unfair to people in urban areas, particularly Dublin but also Cork, Galway, Limerick and places like that.

To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the possible impact that the introduction of a sugar tax or a possible increase in regulation of the food industry in relation to matters of obesity will potentially have on the food industry here; if there has been stakeholder contact with him since these recommendations have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter.