Patrick O'Donovan, TD

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of resources available throughout the educational sector in the current year...

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary schools throughout County Kildare currently awaiting approval in respect of replacement of buildings or provision of new structures or other facilities...

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of resources available to his Department to meet in full the requirements of the special needs educational sector throughout the year...

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill which is important for all of us in Europe.

Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating, has called on those with an interest in solving Ireland’s social and environmental problems to apply for Social Entrepreneurs Ireland’s Awards Programme, for which €500,000 is being made available.

Limerick companies benefitted from more than €4 million in funding from Enterprise Ireland last year, according to Fine Gael Limerick TD, Patrick O’Donovan. Deputy O’Donovan raised the matter in a Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD.

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has welcomed news that the IDA has submitted a planning application with Waterford County Council for the development of new offices that will total 25,000 square feet. This new development will be situated in the IDA Business and Technology Park in Butlerstown, Co Waterford.

This represents another important step toward meeting the commitment in the Programme for Government to end the practice of sending children to St. Patrick’s Institution.

Minister of State Paul Kehoe announced this weekend that Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of the late U.S.A President John F Kennedy will be guest of honour at the JFK50 celebrations in Ireland and New Ross next June.

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will outline, as per the current Croke Park agreement, the structures that have been put in place by the Implementation Body for Departments that are underperforming; the penalties in place for such Departments; if the implementation process of the Croke Park agreement will be revisited in the negotiation process for 2014 to enhance the incentive for changes to take place on a more individual Departmental basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter.