Damien English, TD

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he has taken in order to increase suicide awareness and mental health support in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in tabular form the monthly cost of emergency works grant aid in 2013 and annual cost in 2012; the number of applicants for the grant in 2012 and 2013; the cost of the minor works grant scheme in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the turnover of substitute teachers in primary and secondary level schools are monitored by his Department with respect to each school; the rate of which the number of substitute teachers has increased or decreased since the embargo on recruitment; if there has been analysis carried out by his Department on the impact that this may have on the quality of lessons; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Olivia Mitchell has expressed sympathy with the workers at HP as 220 job losses were announced today (2 July 2013). This will further impact 60 contract jobs which are also to go.

I am very pleased to brief the House on the outcome of last month’s meeting of the European Council which took place in Brussels on Thursday and Friday of last week, 27-28 June, the last two working days of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union.