Results 6,661-6,680 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (20 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline in detail the process of outsourcing the scanning of grant application documents to a third party in County Cork; if a cost benefit analysis was conducted prior to the awarding of the contract to the company; if the contract was put out to public tender; the cost differential of outsourcing this element of the grant application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Access (20 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any analysis or assessment has been carried out by his Department which projects the likely impact on access to higher education by persons in lower socio-economic groups as a result of recent cuts to maintenance grants and increases in registration fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51337/12]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (15 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Finance if Relevant Contracts Tax is to be made applicable to some minor school maintenance work and repairs; if consideration has been given to the likely heavy administrative workload to be incurred by boards of management and the possible difficulties that may arise with regards to ensuring tax liability and compliance; and if he will enter into negotiations with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Forthcoming Education, Youth and Culture Council: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (14 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister for outlining some of the priorities for the Presidency in terms of education. On higher education, the Minister said we will be organising a conference focusing on the EU university multi-ranking project. Will he give the committee more information on that? He stated also that a meeting of the directors general of higher education focusing on the value of regional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (14 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide details on the recent trade mission that he led to Brazil; and his expectations of future bilateral relations with Brazil following his visit. [50097/12]

Education Funding: Motion [Private Members] (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Like previous Deputies, today's engagement at the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection was an important step towards trying to resolve this issue. It is unfortunate it had to come to this, but, nevertheless, the fact we had SUSI officials before the committee today went some way towards explaining some of the issues relating to the backlog. I cannot speak on behalf of any...

Education Funding: Motion [Private Members] (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Everyone acknowledges it except SUSI.

Education Funding: Motion [Private Members] (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am simply saying that SUSI has not accepted that the system is not working.

Education Funding: Motion [Private Members] (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I agree.

Leaders' Questions (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is that September of next year?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: They may have run out of credit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: With regard to adjacent and non-adjacent grants, I spoke to a student who felt the grant awarded was not correct. When she contacted SUSI to point this out she was informed she had to appeal the decision. She was never told about the review option. The witnesses should examine this because students are being told they must appeal decisions rather than have them reviewed. Perhaps there is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: One question remains unanswered and perhaps the witnesses either do not want to or cannot answer it. How many additional resources or personnel were asked for and were they obtained? The witnesses keep stating they will receive X amount but what we all want to know is whether this was what they asked the Department to put in place to deal with it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Several members have asked about personnel and we deserve an answer. How many personnel did Ms Stewart request from the Department to clear the backlog? Have additional personnel and resources been put in place? I do not want an answer on the increased numbers. I want to know if SUSI asked for a specific number of personnel to clear the backlog by December and, if so, whether the request...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I accept that Ms Stewart sincerely does not want to see a situation in which any student who is entitled to a grant is not awarded it, and she does not want to see any student drop out as a result of this fiasco, but the reality is that students are being forced to drop out. There are students who are now getting letters from their colleges asking for late fees because they have not been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is not the case either. Ms Stewart has received the wrong information. Students have been telling members they cannot use library facilities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Who scans them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: SUSI does not deal with the documentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: Chairman, there were a number of questions asked which were not answered. Before we move on we need to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Student Grant Application System: Discussion with SUSI (13 Nov 2012)

Jonathan O'Brien: I asked about the number of appeals which have been submitted.