Damien English, TD

Local Fine Gael TD for Dublin South Olivia Mitchell welcomed the announcement by Minister Phil Hogan that €494,938 of funding has been approved under the Rural Development Programme for Ireland 2007-2013 for the development of a sports and recreational facility in Glencullen.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the planned post primary school in the Stepaside area in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in the interest of fairness and to ensure access to the school of choice, if fee paying schools from a minority faith background could be exempt from any further increases in the pupil teacher ratio; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will confirm that 80% of the local property tax collected in any one local authority area will be retained towards the cost of services provided in that area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the formula that will be used to allocate the remaining 20% of the proceeds of the local property tax not retained by the local authorities in cases where the 80% is insufficient to cover their costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of counties in which it is envisaged that the full amount collected in the local property tax will compensate for the loss of the amounts allocated in the current year from the local government fund and collected from the non-principle private residence charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if it is envisaged that the proceeds of the local property tax in a full year will be sufficient to replace the current Local Government Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if the portion of pension resulting from the payment of AVCs will be subject to the proposed public sector pension reduction; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Fine Gael Clare Senator, Martin Conway, has today (Tuesday) welcomed the announcement by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD, that the Government has approved an additional €50 million for regional and local roads expenditure in 2013, with €1,980,814 being allocated to Clare County Council for regional and local roads.