Patrick O'Donovan, TD

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.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has today confirmed that the 116000 Hotline for Missing Children, operated by the ISPCC, which was commenced in December 2012 on a reduced hours pilot basis, is now operating on a full time 24/7 basis. Full time operation of the line started this week

Subsidised places will assist low-income families where parents are returning to work.

Fine Gael Dun Laoghaire Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, will tomorrow (Thursday) welcome the Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald TD, to Dun Laoghaire, where the Minister will officially open the Cottage Home Family Support Service, visit the Harold Primary School and address the Women in Business Alliance at the Dun Laoghaire Chamber of Commerce.