Tullamore Tribune Tim Ryan, Oireachtas Correspondent Cowen

Tullamore Tribune Tim Ryan, Oireachtas Correspondent Cowen accuses Ross of being “bought off” by reopening of Stepaside Garda Station The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross was “bought off” with the reopening of Stepaside Garda station, Fianna Fáil Deputy Barry Cowen told the Dáil. Speaking during a debate on the Judicial Appointments Bill, he said within two minutes of the relevant Cabinet meeting concluding, a banner welcoming the reopening of Stepaside Garda station was ready. “If he had no idea what was coming, he showed magical powers by producing the banner in the manner in which he did,” he said. “The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is wasting precious Government time by having the Government prioritise this Bill at the expense of much more pressing legislation,” he said. “The Government should detail to the House the reasons for the delay in producing legislation to give effect to many of the recommendations that have emanated from motions and Private Members' Bills and in the pre-legislative scrutiny of Bills by various committees of the House. We have not heard these reasons because the Minister would have us believe that this is the way business is done. This is the how he gives effect to his feigned commitment. The Minister has been 30 years in the Houses of the Oireachtas, yet it has taken 12 months to draft the legislation he claims he has been trying to introduce for such a long time.” People in rural Ireland treated like second class citizens People in rural areas are being treated like second class citizens in the roll-out of broadband, Sinn Féin Deputy Carol Nolan told the Dáil. She asked the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar if he could confirm that over half a million customers in rural areas will not see the roll out of rural broadband commence until at least 2019, after this commercial scheme is completed. “Does the Taoiseach accept reports that claim that it could now be 2023 or 2024 before many of these 500,000 homes and businesses see any progress towards linking them to broadband?” she asked. “In the context of Brexit and its likely impact on agriculture, the agri-food industry, fishing communities and rural communities, the failure by Government to deliver broadband places rural Ireland at a distinct economic and social disadvantage.” In response, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the procurement process is now at the detailed solutions phase and bidders have been invited to submit their detailed solutions in September. “This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to final tenders,” he said. “In terms of phasing in or rolling out high-speed broadband, over 50% of premises are already covered and it is anticipated that 75% will be covered by 2018. It is hoped more than 90% will be covered by the end of 2020” Deputy Micheál Martin: “There is no credibility in that statement.” Nolan introduces Bill to regulate voluntary contributions to schools A new Bill regulating the circumstances in which schools may seek voluntary contributions was introduced in the Dáil by Sinn Féin Deputy Carol Nolan. The practice of schools seeking voluntary contributions has become widespread in recent years, he said. A recent study by Barnardos showed 66% of parents of children at primary school and 79% of parents of children at secondary school are requested to pay a voluntary contribution. The average contribution is between €100 and €150 per child and the specific amount is often stipulated on the same form as the child’s enrolment information. “It is clear from this study and, indeed, from the numerous stories I have heard from parents that the current practice is far from being voluntary and makes a mockery of our so-called free education system,” she said. “It should not have to be parents and children who pay the price for bad government policy which has refused to tackle this issue. In many cases, parents and children simply do not have the means to make these levels of contributions to schools. An Irish League of Credit Unions survey stated 31% of parents get into debt to cover back to school costs. Figures have shown that the rate of children experiencing consistent poverty has almost doubled between 2008 and 2015.” She said the Bill seeks to strike a balance between the right of schools to accept voluntary contributions to make up the shortfall in funding and the realities for many parents who simply cannot afford them. The Government did not oppose the Bill at its initial stage. .

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