Results 2,701-2,720 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: There are 48 this year and many schools throughout the country do not have PE halls, including one in Deputy Catherine Martin's constituency. Can that school now apply to the Department for a PE hall to be one of the 48?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I have to stop you there. We are dealing with the Revised Estimates for 2019. I am more than happy to have a discussion about the capital plan for the next ten years, but we are talking about this year's Estimates.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Unfortunately I have to put this on the record. I know some members took umbrage at the speaking rota I put forward. That rota is as set out in the chairing guidelines. I accept that members were not happy with that, but that was my only motivation and it is how things were done previously. It is set out that party spokespersons would be called first. That is the only reason I did it. I...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I am going on the advice I have available. I apologise. I did not see the Deputy raise her hand.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I have a list which was written by the clerk and I am taking his advice. I apologise to the Deputy.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Can I clarify that the Minister means the next round of pay talks?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I have allowed wide latitude in the questions being asked, as I always take it myself. Does anybody wish to ask anything else? I suggest that we confine questions in this round to the Estimates. I am not imposing a time limit but we should confine it to the Estimates in the interest of time. It is an important function. I have a couple of questions. I could ask more but I do not wish...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: My second point relates to school places and the capital spend. The briefing from the Department refers to 40,000 places replaced or provided. However, I am looking at page 102 of the Estimates document, the details of programme. I see in 2018 an output target for additional places at primary, additional places at post-primary, enhance or replace at primary and enhance or replace at...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Is it the case that we are getting less growth in the context of school places for substantially more money?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Am I right? I do not know whether the officials have the figures.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Even with primary school numbers nationally decreasing, or beginning to do so, there will still be massive pressure in urban areas.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: There are also Cork and Galway.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Are any other members offering? I have other questions but I will ask them after other members.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The budget relating to schools is by far the largest. I have one very quick question and the Minister has touched on it. I find the capital programme and the figures on school places frightening. The Minister mentioned Gorey. My colleagues from the area have contacted me. I keep mentioning Ashbourne and I need an answer on this also. I have had a colleague on from Ennis and I have heard...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I will move on to skills development, which is programme B. Does the Minister wish to speak about this or will we go straight to questions?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I will briefly add a question about the results from apprenticeships. In 2017, the Department targeted 13 new apprenticeship programmes and the outturn was 11. Last year, the target was reduced to ten and this year the target is 35. It has been very slow progress. If we make 35 extra programmes this year it will be fantastic, but is the Minister confident this will happen given that we...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: What the Minister has just said is that the Department knew how many teachers would be retiring but did not provide for it in the Estimate.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: It did not provide for them because it had to present a Supplementary Estimate.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Therefore, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform sanctioned funding that was less than expenditure.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (26 Feb 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Previously the reason given for presenting a Supplementary Estimate was there had been unanticipated additional retirees. We are now getting a slightly different story, that the numbers had been anticipated but the money was not available.