A Total Contributions Approach (TCA) will replace the current yearly average approach for all new State Pension (Contributory) applicants by 2020, though legislation will be required before any changes come into effect. The new TCA assesses your total contributions paid, rather than your yearly average, to calculate your entitlement to a pension. With TCA you qualify for a full pension if you have 40 years of contributions. The changes aim to ensure that all your social insurance contributions, irrespective of when you paid them, are taken into account when assessing your entitlement to a pension. This will particularly benefit people who spent time outside the workplace while raising families or in caring roles.
After considering the submissions received from the public on the matter last year, officials are preparing proposals for the Government on the specific design of the new approach.
INTERIM ARRANGEMENTS FOR PEOPLE WHO APPLIED FOR PENSIONS AFTER 1 SEPTEMBER 2012

Parental Leave Changes - Update
I have received a lot of enquiries in recent weeks about planned changes to the rules around parental leave. Currently, parental leave of up to 18 weeks is available for each child up to the age of 8.
Last year, the Social Democrats introduced a Bill that would, if enacted, increase parental leave to 26 weeks per child and will raise the qualifying age of the child to 12. This would make a hugely positive difference for so many families. I and my colleagues in Fianna Fáil are fully supporting this Bill.
The Bill passed all stages in the Dáil in June 2018 and was introduced in the Seanad last November (during an FF private members' slot). However, the government seemed to do a u-turn before Christmas and signalled it would be opposing the Bill.  When the Bill completes its journey in the Seanad, any amendments made there will need to go back to the Dáil for approval.
It is difficult to say when the Bill will become law but it could happen within weeks or a short few months unless the government seeks to obstruct it in some way.  I will do everything I possibly can to support the passage of this Bill so that it can become law as quickly as possible.

Preparation of Legislation to Combat this Anti-Social & Dangerous Nuisance
I and my party colleague, John Curran TD, have begun the process of preparing legislation to bring to the Dáil to give Gardai the powers they require to combat the scourge of Scramblers and Quads in residential areas. 
The Bill that we have begun preparing is designed to give Gardai powers they do not have:
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1. ​The power of entry to people’s property for the purpose of seizure and confiscation of these vehicles where legally appropriate;
2. A legal requirement to register/licence these vehicles – making it an offence to drive them unregistered and /or unlicensed.
3. Making it an offence to use these vehicles in an irresponsible manner

A full link to the application to An Bord Pleanála may be viewed by clicking here.
This is an extract from South Dublin County Council's Submission (along with Coillte Teoranta & Dublin Mountain Partnership) application to An Bord Pleanála.
"The proposed development includes (a) the conversion of 26ha of Coillte’s Hell Fire forest property from productive conifer forest to mixed deciduous woodland for use primarily as amenity open space; (b) modifications, including new sections of trail, and upgrade of the existing network of walking and equestrian trails throughout the Hell Fire and Massy’s Wood forest properties; .........

QUESTION NO:  194 DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Richard Bruton) by Deputy John Lahart
for WRITTEN ANSWER on 04/07/2017  
 To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the two temporary eight classroom schools at a location (details supplied) in Dublin 24 will not be used as temporary accommodation or as a permanent site for the proposed educate together 1,000 pupil post primary school to serve the wider area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. (Details Supplied) off Ballycullen Drive, Firhouse, Dublin 24,
 
REPLY. I wish to advise the Deputy that the temporary accommodation will not remain at the location to which the Deputy refers following delivery of the permanent accommodation at this property. It is not proposed to accommodate the post-primary school to which the Deputy refers at this location either on a temporary or permanent basis. The post-primary school will open as scheduled in September 2018 in suitable interim accommodation. With regard to the post-primary school's permanent accommodation, a suitable site has been identified and the Department is working towards acquiring the site. Due to commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions generally I am not in a position to provide further details at this time.