Hildegarde Naughton, TD

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in the interest of fairness and to ensure access to the school of choice, if fee paying schools from a minority faith background could be exempt from any further increases in the pupil teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that 80% of the local property tax collected in any one local authority area will be retained towards the cost of services provided in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the formula that will be used to allocate the remaining 20% of the proceeds of the local property tax not retained by the local authorities in cases where the 80% is insufficient to cover their costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of counties in which it is envisaged that the full amount collected in the local property tax will compensate for the loss of the amounts allocated in the current year from the local government fund and collected from the non-principle private residence charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is envisaged that the proceeds of the local property tax in a full year will be sufficient to replace the current Local Government Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the portion of pension resulting from the payment of AVCs will be subject to the proposed public sector pension reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the announcement by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD, that the Government has approved an additional €50 million for regional and local roads expenditure in 2013, with €1,980,814 being allocated to Clare County Council for regional and local roads.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, has welcomed the announcement of €505,527 which is being awarded to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council as part of an allocation of €50 million to repair and maintain our local and regional roads nationally.

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has been informed by the Department of Health that the Air Ambulance service (Emergency Aeromedical Support Service) will continue pending the Minister for Health’s receipt and consideration of the report on the review of the pilot service.

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has warmly welcomed an additional €2.84 million in total funding for the repair and restoration of regional and local roads in Counties Roscommon and Leitrim.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, joined celebrity chef Neven Maguire in a visit to Clarke’s Fresh Fruit Farm in Stamullen last week. Deputy McEntee addressed the event, which marked the start of the summer growing season.

Fine Gael Meath TDs have today (Tuesday) welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar TD, that Meath County Council is being allocated €2.1 million for the repair of regional and local roads across the county.