Simon Coveney, TD

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., today congratulated Irish boxers for their outstanding and historic achievements winning four medals at the European Boxing Championships in Belarus.

To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there will be a recognition in her plans for reform of childcare and pre school care facilities for staff members who may have been working in childcare for an appropriate number of years to receive an exemption from the FETAC level five qualification; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Fine Gael TD for Roscommon/South Leitrim, Frank Feighan, has moved to dispel misleading commentary about the levels and availability of LEADER funding in County Roscommon. Deputy Feighan has highlighted that while Roscommon Integrated Development Company has approved more than €9m in LEADER funding for local projects since 2009, only €3.5m has actually been drawn down for completed projects over this four year period.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, last week attended the official opening of the new extension at Scoil Naoimh Pio, in Knockcommon, Beauparc, Co. Meath. The extension was officially opened by the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn TD.

Frances Fitzgerald T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, has today committed to delivering a comprehensive and multi- faceted Pre-School Quality Agenda.

Fine Gael TD for Mayo, John O’Mahony, has paid tribute to the outgoing chairman of Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), Mr Liam Scollan, who has announced that he is set to retire from his role at the airport. Deputy O’Mahony is the Chairman of the Ireland West Airport Knock Study group which is examining proposals for the future development of the airport.

We may be in the last weeks of the Irish Presidency, but as I have said many times, we will be working until the last minute of the last day to advance our agenda for stability growth and jobs.

Fine Gael Minister of State at the Department of Finance and TD for Dublin South West, Brian Hayes, has today (Monday) welcomed IBS-Xerox (Ireland)'s expansion of its operations with the creation of 90 skilled jobs.

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has called on the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD, and the Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan TD, to introduce a moratorium on the rates revaluation process until the new valuation legislation, which is currently in the Seanad, has been appropriately debated. Deputy Coffey made the call after some businesses in Waterford were hit with rate increases of between 50-100% as a result of the valuation process.