Hildegarde Naughton, TD

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell has said that funding for Fingal LEADER Partnership can now be accessed for rural economic development via a €90 million fund, announced by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan today in the Dáil.

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell has said that funding for Fingal LEADER Partnership can now be accessed for rural economic development via a €90 million fund, announced by Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan today in the Dáil.

As stated on numerous occasions, this legislation will close the loophole in our motor taxation system that is costing the taxpayer in excess of €50 million per annum. It will ensure a more fair and transparent system for road users.

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South, Olivia Mitchell has urged public sector unions to work constructively with the LRC in an effort to form an agreement on how savings of €300 million can be made on public sector pay and pensions. Deputy Mitchell was speaking during Private Members Business on the Croke Park 2 agreement.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision has been taken to continue to increase the pupil teacher ratio in fee paying schools until it reaches 28:1 being the option included in the McCarthy report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. - Olivia Mitchell.

After five years of budgetary adjustments, it is inevitable we all feel we have reached the end of our tether, that we have had enough and that we cannot take any more.

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, that he is authorising €42 million to local development companies. Deputy Coffey received the news this afternoon (Wednesday) during a topical issue debate in the Dáil, where the Minister stated that he will be approving a total of €90 million for the funding of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme.

Speaking following a meeting of the Committee on Environment, which was attended by representatives from the Office of Public Works, Fine Gael Longford/Westmeath Deputy, James Bannon, welcomed the engagement by officials and their commitment to address the issues of flooding on the River Shannon.

Fine Gael Louth Senator, Jim D’arcy, has welcomed the new €1 million scheme announced by the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney TD, to reduce the price of imported fodder to farmers.