Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South-West, Cáit Keane, has called on Minister of State with responsibility for Housing, Paudie Coffey, to re- instate an affordable housing provision for the Dublin area in newly proposed planning legislation. Senator Keane was speaking after the presentation of various Irish planning stakeholders to the Joint Oireachtas Environment, Culture and Gaeltacht Committee meeting this week where the general scheme of the Planning and Development (no. 1) Bill 2014 was discussed. Social housing provision, development contributions, a vacant site levy and planning permissions were the main issues addressed at the meeting.

Fine Gael Kildare South TD, Martin Heydon, has said that the new mortgage guidelines issued by the Central Bank this week do not apply fully to those who already own a house and are in negative equity.

“Earlier this week in the Dáil Sinn Féin criticised the Government’s housing strategy that will see €3.8 billion invested in housing over the next six years. But in Northern Ireland, where Sinn Féin are in government, the department responsible for housing has had its budget cut by 10% this year,” said Minister Paudie Coffey.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has today (Friday) attended the official sod-turning of the new the new plant at Smartply with Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and The Marine Tom Hayes TD. €59 million will be invested in Smartply in Belview Port that will create 300 construction jobs.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South, Olivia Mitchell, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement of 100 new jobs by ICON, which is based in the South County Business Park.

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has said that a new €25 million competitive fund will benefit the Midlands as part of the Government’s Regional Enterprise Strategy.

The Government today (Thursday) published the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, the next step in the multi-annual process aimed at delivering full employment by 2018.

Fine Gael TD for Meath East, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) called on the HSE to accept or reject the new pricing offer from the pharmaceutical company Alexion for the drug eculizumab, or Soliris, which is used to treat paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PHN).

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South, Olivia Mitchell, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement of 100 new jobs by ICON, which is based in the South County Business Park.

“The economic recovery is underway but more needs to be done to grow jobs in all regions and to support new business; this is the key goal of this year’s Action Plan for Jobs”, says John Paul Phelan, Fine Gael TD for Carlow/Kilkenny.