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Dáil Question on learning support differentiation between boys' and girls' schools

Minister Shatter publishes Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD has today published the Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013. The Bill represents a major reform of the fine payment and recovery system in Ireland and provides for the payment of fines by installment and attachment of earnings.

Question on Social Welfare Appeals

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she has taken to reduce the waiting time for social welfare appeals and details of the success to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Question Asking for an Update on the Provision of a Social Welfare Office in Balbriggan

To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an update on the provision of a social welfare office in Balbriggan, County Dublin, for local community welfare services in view of the fact that currently recipients are required to travel to the city centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter

Government will pay employers to hire long-term unemployed under new JobsPlus scheme

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has welcomed the launch of JobsPlus, a new Government initiative aimed at incentivising employers to hire the long-term unemployed. It will see the State cover €1 out of every €4 it costs to hire someone off the Live Register.

Action Plan for Jobs helping to create 2,000 jobs a month

Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has said that the Government's Action Plan for Jobs is creating the conditions whereby 2,000 jobs per month are now being created in the private sector. Deputy Farrell's comments were made following the release of the Government's Action Plan for Jobs sixth quarterly progress report which showed that 160 out of 180 objectives have been delivered for the second quarter of 2013.

Govt to examine every community to determine future broadband needs

Aine Collins TD has welcomed plans by the Government to examine every community in the state to determine whether it is being served with high broadband speeds or if state intervention is needed to deliver the speeds required by the National Broadband Plan. The Nationwide Broadband Mapping Plan will identify where advanced broadband services are already in place and where plans exist to deliver such services over the next three years. "The commitment was given in the Programme for Government to deliver next generation broadband to every home and business in the State," Collins explained.

New Waterford City Fire Station to begin construction within weeks – Coffey

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy Paudie Coffey has said that the construction of the new Waterford City Fire Station will begin in the coming weeks. Deputy Coffey received confirmation of this from the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Phil Hogan TD by way of a Parliamentary Question, who informed him that initial funding of €2 million has been allocated for this project.

Criminal Legal Aid PQ 17/07/2013

Coffey calls on Govt to consider recoupment scheme for Criminal Legal Aid

Fine Gael Waterford Deputy, Paudie Coffey, has called on the Government to look at the introduction of a recoupment scheme for people who avail of Criminal Legal Aid. Figures released to Deputy Coffey from the Minister for Justice and Equality, Alan Shatter TD, showed that the scheme has cost the taxpayer more than €188 million over the last three years, without any recoupment for the State.