Simon Coveney, TD

Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has announced that legislation agreed at cabinet to put the Children First

Fine Gael TD for Dublin South, Olivia Mitchell, has suggested that a structured government backed scheme to help support families and individuals relocate and settle in the gateways and hub towns identified in the National Spatial Strategy would help alleviate social housing need in Dublin.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to increase the number of ASD places in mainstream secondary schools in Dublin south; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

I very much welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. The debate is very timely. I am sure I am no different from other Deputies who probably find that housing is not just the single biggest issue coming to them in representations but larger than all other issues combined.

Fine Gael Dublin South Central TD, Catherine Byrne has strongly condemned the shooting which took place in Ballyfermot yesterday evening.

Fine Gael Cork South West TD, Jim Daly, has today (Thursday) welcomed the announcement that €364,000 in funding has been approved for the restoration of the Signal Towner at the Old Head of Kinsale, as part of the on-going development of the Wild Atlantic Way. The funding has been announced by the Minister of State for Tourism & Sport, Michael Ring TD.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Regina Doherty, has today (Thursday) said that she has held discussions with the Health Service Executive (HSE) about the future of Climber Hall in Kells.

Fine Gael TD for Galway West, Sean Kyne, has welcomed the announcement of €403,000 in funding for the first phase of the Galway Greenway. The funding is part of a €1.4 million investment in key tourism sites along the Wild Atlantic Way announced today (Thursday) by Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD. Ten million euro in total is being invested in the Wild Atlantic Way, which stretches from the Inishowen Peninsula in Donegal through Galway, to Kinsale in Co. Cork

Fine Gael Seanad spokesperson on European Affairs, Senator Catherine Noone, has today (Thursday) welcomed a European Parliament vote to eliminate roaming charges in the EU.

Fine Gael Deputy for Longford/Westmeath, James Bannon, has welcomed the new taxi regulations due to enter into force this month, saying they will be of benefit to legal taxi operators in Longford and Westmeath.