Patrick O'Donovan, TD

The Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly TD, today (Wednesday 18 December) welcomed the publication of the Health Service National Service Plan 2014. The plan sets out the type and volume of health and social services to be provided in the course of 2014.

Fine Gael Cork South West Deputy, Jim Daly, has today (Wednesday) welcomed confirmation from the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD, that recruitment for the Gateway scheme, which is a Cork-based initiative to provide short-term work for the unemployed, will begin in January. Deputy Daly raised the matter in a Parliamentary Question to Minister Burton.

Cork South Central Fine Gael TD and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children, Jerry Buttimer, has welcomed the awarding of over €350,000 to Cork based groups as part of the latest round of National Lottery grants, as announced by the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, TD.

Fine Gael Tipperary TD, Noel Coonan, has this evening (Thursday) welcomed the announcement that Tipperary Regional Youth Services (TRYS) and Cappa White National School are set to share in €15,000 in funding under a National Lottery grants. The funding has been announced by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Frances Fitzgerald TD.

The Government today considered the General Scheme of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Bill 2013.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee TD, has today (Tuesday) congratulated Eddie Downey, from Slane in Co. Meath, on his successful election as the 14th President of the Irish Farmers Association.

I would like to congratulate Eddie Downey on his election as the new President of the IFA

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy Paudie Coffey has welcomed news from that the Department of Health that over €100,000 has been awarded for three projects in Waterford. The three projects that will benefit are the new Grow It Yourself Project in Waterford City that has a site opposite Waterford Regional Hospital that will receive in excess of €75,400 and The Portlaw Red Cross Society will receive over €7,300 and Waterford Intellectual Disability Group will also benefit to the tune of €20,000.

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy Paudie Coffey has said he is delighted to receive confirmation from Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar TD that the Government has agreed today to continue exchequer support for the four regional airports including Waterford Airport beyond 2014.

Fine Gael Party Chairman, Charlie Flanagan TD, has this evening (Monday) said that it is astonishing that the Fianna Fáil leader, Micheál Martin TD, would give a televised address on exiting the bailout without acknowledging that he was a senior minister in the Fianna Fáil Government which caused the economic crash and led Ireland into the Troika programme.