John Paul Phelan, TD

Fine Gael TD for Longford/Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has reminded everyone to spend some time with their elderly friends and neighbours this Christmas.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Jim Daly, who also is Vice Chairman of the Oireachtas Education Committee, has welcomed the news that the practise of primary schools demanding cash payments from parents will come to an end.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that he was delighted to receive confirmation from his Ministerial Colleague, Minister of Justice Frances Fitzgerald TD that the works for the refurbishment and extension of Waterford City Courthouse are due to begin in the coming weeks after the contracts were signed. Minister Coffey said the total cost of this project will amount to around €20 million and will expand the current number of court rooms from two to six.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has said that new tax equalisation measures will benefit self- employed people in Waterford, helping to create even more jobs.

Fine Gael Waterford Minister Paudie Coffey has welcomed the successful outcome of the negotiations for fishing quotas for 2016. This agreement was negotiated by my colleague Minister for Agriculture, Food and The Marine Simon Coveney TD in Brussells that will benefit Fishermen around Waterford and in particular Dunmore East.

Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Gabrielle McFadden, has welcomed the inclusion of €300,000 in the HSE’s Service Plan for 2016, to help complete the €3.6 million upgrade of the Emergency Department at the Midland Regional Hospital in Mullingar.

Five years on from the introduction of the USC by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael is on course to abolish the punitive tax according to Fine Gael TD for Meath West and Minister of State, Damien English.

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, Jerry Buttimer, has said that changes implemented in the housing department in Cork City Council will ensure that the use of available funding is maximised.

Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, and Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Health, Jerry Buttimer, has said the HSE Service Plan will protect existing services and develop new ones.

Fine Gael TD for Cork South West, Noel Harrington has said that the increase in whitefish quotas secured by the Minister for Agriculture and the Marine, Simon Coveney at the EU Fisheries Council, will benefit the Cork fisheries sector.