Jerry Buttimer, TD

Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar has confirmed that the new rate of pensionsand weekly social welfare increases announced in Budget 2017 will start to come into effect from this week onwards, with all higher payments in place by St Patrick’s Day.

Fine Gael female Ministers, TDs, Senators and Councillors have joined forces in advance of International Women’s Day (tomorrow, Wednesday 8th March) to highlight the work they are doing which will positively impact the lives of women and their families nationwide.

Donegal TD Joe McHugh has welcomed a massive Government funding injection into the county’s seafood processing and aquaculture sectors. Five Donegal companies in Fanad, Killybegs and Donegal Town are set to benefit from the grants scheme with a total grant award amounting to more than €750,000.

“This local investment is part of an overall allocation of €47million for vital school projects around the country. “Works will be carried out in schools in Donegal over the summer months, so the disruption to students, teachers and other school staff will be kept to a minimum. “I am confident that school authorities here in Donegal will be able to achieve best value for money on prices for jobs, and I call on schools to ensure that they maximise the benefit to their schools of the works sanctioned by my Fine Gael colleague, Education Minister Richard Bruton.

Fine Gael Carlow TD, Pat Deering, has criticised Sinn Féin for what he says is the attempted exclusion of Carlow from a significant educational advancement for the South East, the new Technological University for the South East (TUSE).

Deputy Peter Burke, Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath has this week slammed the new position taken by Fianna Fáil over excessive use of water, branding the approach as that of a new a “Fianna Fáil-Sinn Féin Alliance”. Burke said this new level of populism flies in the face of those who sacrificed so much to stabilise our economy, and will put our current and future budgets at risk.

Government spokesman on EU Affairs in the Seanad, and Chair of the Seanad Brexit Committee, Neale Richmond, has welcomed last night’s vote in the House of Lords, saying that it is positive news for the Irish community in Great Britain.

“New health legislation being introduced this week is good news for older people in Donegal as it will reduce their prescription charges. This means more money in the pockets of older people as they care for their health,” said Minister McHugh

“Donegal people have a proud tradition in serving in the Defence Forces and an Open Day is being planned at Finner Camp for this interested in continuing that proud tradition. “They are looking for general service recruits, apprentices and cadets and I strongly encourage young men and women in Donegal to consider this exciting opportunity.

Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs and Natural Resources and Fine Gael TD for Galway West and Mayo South Seán Kyne, has today (Wednesday) confirmed that his Department is working on an Action Plan for the Twenty Year Strategy for the Irish Language.