Results 7,301-7,320 of 8,605 for speaker:Seán Crowe

School Staffing (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: It depends on the length of time a person has been out. He or she might not have been using the language. Anyone who views the situation objectively would agree that the level and quality of Irish held by the teacher entering the school would be affected and the language within the school would be dumbed down, which no one, including a new teacher, wants to see. Teachers are concerned...

Teaching Qualifications (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Does the Minister not agree that a serious lack of resources allocated to teacher training and Irish language skills to support school planning and in-school mentoring in gaelscoileanna is having a detrimental effect on how the Irish language is being taught? My understanding is that adequate numbers of teachers are available to instruct in maths, science and Irish, the three subjects...

Post-Leaving Certification Courses (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: The Minister of State said that €200 is a modest amount. It is only modest relative to the amount of money one has in one's pocket. Like many teachers in this sector I am concerned that the people who do not have this €200 will not be able to upskill. While €200 may be a modest amount to some people it is quite a lot to others, bearing in mind cuts in people's salaries and so on. I...

Post-Leaving Certification Courses (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Like in many other areas, there is a grey area here. Anyone who has dealt with social welfare issues will be aware of those people who because they are a little above the threshold do not qualify for exemption. These are the people who will be heavily affected by this charge. I accept what the Minister of State said in regard to people on lower incomes. However, it is the people in the...

School Transport (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I missed his point on how much the saving will amount to, so he might repeat that. There is very little public transport in many rural communities and we need to know how many students this measure will affect. When the planners were introducing this change, did they know the effect it would have? Does the Minister agree that these cuts, if...

Irish Language (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: We will have to do something about all these acronyms. I am sure the Minister accepts that it makes sense - socially, politically and economically - for the relevant interests on this small island to work together on many of these issues. He said that "no joint initiatives are under way at present". I assume he appreciates that such initiatives represent the way forward. I welcome the...

Special Educational Needs (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 8: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to any difficulties or constraints being experienced by parents of children with special needs or behavioural problems accessing school places in view of the arbitrary date of 18 March for awarding special needs assistants. [14657/11]

Special Educational Needs (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: When I raised a similar question with a Minister previously he indicated he would examine the matter. He states the National Council for Special Education has not encountered widespread difficulties in this regard. The difficulty faced by families is that they must go from one school to another. I have been contacted by the parents of three children with dyslexia who are trying to have...

Special Educational Needs (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: I am aware of a number of teachers who have come in from a DÉIS area and I have already raised the issue of flexibility with the Minister. We are all seeking a fairer system in this regard but families are facing difficulties regardless because it will take a while to tweak or change the system. We must help those families around the current system, while sending a positive signal that it...

School Staffing (8 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: The Government's 20-year strategy for the Irish language cited research showing that Irish was taught to a very good standard in only half of primary schools, in one third of the classes Irish was taught through the medium of English and pupils in just over half of lessons inspected were able to express themselves satisfactorily in Irish. The key concern for many in the gaelscoileanna sector...

Written Answers — Fiscal Policy: Fiscal Policy (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 28: To ask the Minister for Finance the expected ratio of spending cuts to tax increases expected in budget 2012. [14241/11]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 38: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on whether there is a conflict between the EU-IMF programme commitment on reducing tax credits and tax bands and his programme for Government commitment to maintain existing tax credits and bands; and, if so, if he intends to seek an amendment to the EU-IMF programme to make it consistent with his programme. [14242/11]

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 132: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if mature students attending an institute of technology (details supplied), who are receiving the back to education allowance and maintenance grants from the vocational education committee while studying courses such as construction management, will continue to receive these payments to enable them to finish their studies. [14111/11]

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he will introduce to reform the points system at post-primary level and address the current demands that are placed on both teachers and students as they prepare for the leaving certificate examination. [14301/11]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 144: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the changes he will make to criteria governing the appointment of posts in the home school community liaison scheme and the clarifications that are being made to vacant HSCL posts that are to be filled in the forthcoming school year. [14334/11]

Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: The Taoiseach might be aware that with the good weather over the weekend there were a lot of parties held in houses throughout the State. Unfortunately, in some estates, the party goes on for one, two or three nights.

Order of Business (7 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: It is not a new one. It is party time. It also happens during the week. In regard to noise levels and noise pollution, there was a miscellaneous provisions Bill, a consultation Bill and so on. The reality is that some people have to live beside constant parties. There have been a number of attempts in the House over the years to try to deal with this matter but it is an ongoing problem...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 69: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to change the current criteria governing the allocation of maintenance grants for students attending third level education. [13944/11]

Foreign Conflicts (2 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 8: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the way Ireland can aid the 165,000 refugees from Western Sahara, who have been living in refugee camps since 1975, who fled escaping Moroccan occupation and who are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance. [13728/11]

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (1 Jun 2011)

Seán Crowe: Question 44: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there will be oral hearings for the purpose of the recently commissioned taxi industry review; and if any other forms of submission will be accepted and considered by the review. [13678/11]