John Paul Phelan, TD

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, TD, today announced that payments under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme have started issuing, on schedule, today.

Fine Gael Kerry TD and Member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Brendan Griffin, has welcomed a major boost to the exchequer provided by an increase in VRT and VAT as a result of a sharp increase in car sales.

Fine Gael candidate in the Roscommon/South Leitrim bye-election, Maura Hopkins, has welcomed the announcement by Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Simon Harris, that an amendment is to be made to ease the rates burden on many local sports clubs.

prisoners have absconded from the prison service in each of the past five years to date;

technology including forensic technology available to An Garda Síochána continues to be upgraded

when it is expected that the appointment of the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána will be approved

various cold cases continue to receive attention

backlogs that exists throughout the court system

number of prisoners granted early release

prisoners continue to have access to ongoing education and rehabilitative training