Results 46,121-46,140 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Private Members' Business. Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (12 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important topic. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, was correct to point out in his speech last night the increasing demands facing the school system, most particularly the additional 70,000 pupils who will enroll in Irish schools in the next six years. Obviously, as the Minister will acknowledge, it also is a time in which...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 107: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is considering measures to increase the level of VAT compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1142/12]

Written Answers — Mortgage Arrears Working Group: Mortgage Arrears Working Group (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 111: To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the action that has been taken to date to assist those in mortgage arrears following on from the publication of the report of the interdepartmental mortgage arrears working group; the timeline in which he expects recommendations form these reports to be acted upon, information on co-ordination of efforts between him and...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 135: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 179 of 20 September 2011, the progress that has been made by him on redesigning the criteria for Irish language exemptions in primary and secondary schools to include children with diagnoses of aspergers syndrome; if parents will be consulted or invited to participate on this issue; and if he...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 136: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has any plans to reverse the decision which mandates him to place minority faith secondary schools in the same category as fee-paying private Catholic secondary schools; if his attention has been drawn to the hardships that this designation is causing minority faith schools and families; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 138: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale behind the withdrawal of support grants to Protestant faith schools in view of the impact of this on the pupil teacher ratio at such schools and the long standing safeguards in place to protect their viability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40846/11]

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures undertaken by him to recognise the diversity of the school going population, and to ensure that parents can access schools whose ethos reflects their own faith, in view of changes to the funding provided to such schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40845/11]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 139: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he sees there being a role for an educational model of speech therapy as well as a health model; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40852/11]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 242: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce a staffing circular instructing all post-primary principals to ensure that effective and sufficient guidance counselling services are offered in individual post-primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1080/12]

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 240: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the work of the National Council on Special Education within the remit of the Ombudsman for Children; the discussions that he has had with the Ombudsman's office or the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on this issue; if he is considering legislation to bring about this change; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — School Absenteeism: School Absenteeism (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 241: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place a database of primary school children here; his views that the lack of such a database limits the effectiveness of monitoring absenteeism, transition to second level, and so on; if he has had any discussions with the National Education Welfare Board on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 288: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the costs of public sector pay increments for 2012; the projected cost for each of the years 2013, 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1075/12]

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 289: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of persons on a salary in excess of €50,000 per year who are due to receive a pay increment this year; the number on a salary above €60,000 per year; the number on a salary above €70,000 per year; the cost of pay increments for each of these salary levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1076/12]

Written Answers — Public Service Recruitment: Public Service Recruitment (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 290: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the criteria he will apply when deciding on the areas in the public sector to undertake recruitment in 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1077/12]

Written Answers — Tax and Social Welfare Codes: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 408: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she expects to receive a report from the Chairperson of the Commission on Social Welfare and Taxation on payments to persons with disabilities; the terms of reference of this report; her plans to publish this report; if there will be an opportunity for consultation with and input from persons with disabilities into any review in...

Written Answers — Disability Statistics: Disability Statistics (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 409: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of disability allowance aged between 16 years of age and 18 years of age; the number of persons overall in receipt of this allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1070/12]

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 483: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the rationale behind the decision to merge the National Library and the National Archives; the envisaged cost savings this move will have; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1134/12]

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 506: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a cycling officer in a local authority (details supplied) is leaving their post and that the post will not be renewed because of the public service recruitment moratorium and the negative impact that this vacancy will cause; if he is in a position to direct...

Written Answers — Local Authority Staff: Local Authority Staff (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 507: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will grant a derogation from the public service recruitment moratorium in respect of a front-line service position within a local authority (details supplied) that is due to fall vacant in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41255/11]

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (11 Jan 2012)

Simon Harris: Question 513: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline the membership of An Bord Pleanála; the method of appointment of persons to the board; the competencies required of each member; if he has any intentions to reform the structures and processes of the organisation during his tenure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40831/11]