Emer Higgins, TD

The Government has decided that Ireland will exit the EU-IMF assistance programme on December 15, without the need to pre- arrange a new precautionary credit line from our EU and IMF partners.

Fine Gael Meath East TD, Helen McEntee, has today (Monday) said that major progress has been made in making SUSI, the student grant awarding body, more effective. A total of 43,000 grants have been awarded by SUSI on schedule, with 39,000 already paid out for the academic year of 2013/2014.

Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has today welcomed the publication of the latest series of research findings from the ‘Growing Up in Ireland’ longitudinal study of children which is commissioned and funded by her Department.

To ask the Minister for Finance if it is possible to allocate additional resources to deal with the growing problem of the importation and sale of illegal cigarettes here; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to change current building guidelines to encourage the use of rainwater harvesting in new developments; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if in view of the failure of the company's efforts to set up a grey market for company shares, if he is in a position to respond to the former ESB staff requests that the State should buy back the ESOP shares or any portion of them; and if he will make a statement on the matter?

Fine Gael Roscommon/South Leitrim TD, Frank Feighan, has said that plans for an 8-bed Palliative Care Centre at Roscommon County Hospital are well on track following total funding approval of €14m by Mayo/Roscommon Hospice for this development and a similar project in Mayo.