Results 2,701-2,720 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 279. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has offered professional development to teachers who want to improve their mathematical knowledge; and his plans to rectify same. [23009/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of junior certificate and leaving certificate pupils who applied during each of the past seven years for a reader, a waiver from the assessment of spelling, grammar and punctuation in the language subjects, use of a tape recorder or word processor, a scribe, reasonable accommodation on the grounds of visual impairment, reasonable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 281. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the persons who sit on the group which decides on appeals where reasonable accommodations have been refused by the State Examinations Commission; and details of any remuneration they receive. [23013/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 282. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated to the State Examinations Commission during each of the past seven years for providing for reasonable accommodations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23014/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 305. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a complete list of CTC’s in operation during 2012/2013; and his plans to integrate these into ETB’s. [23342/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 306. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that SIPTU has tried to engage with IACTO, SOLAS and his Department on the issue of CTCs; and that his Department have refused to meet on the issue; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that IACTO are not disseminating the information. [23343/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 307. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that CTC workers have agreements in place with IACTO/SOLAS on collective issues such as redundancies and annual leave however they have been informed that his Department will not honour these agreements as was the experience in an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; if he will commit to...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Rent Supplement Scheme Administration (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 351. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the geographic areas where landlords may not accept rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22170/14]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 528. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has directed Irish Water on the matter of water allocation for under 18 year olds that will be delivered in the many Gaeltacht areas where local Mná Tí open their houses for the summer months to students from outside Gaeltacht areas who wish to improve their spoken Gaeilge. [22437/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (27 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 886. To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive provides funding to clear a backlog in the waiting list for bariatric surgery in Loughlinstown weight management clinic; if he is on target to honour his commitment to ensure the waiting list for bariatric surgery is reduced to one year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23007/14]

Guerin Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I do not. Perhaps Deputy Buttimer would name them.

Guerin Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I agree with Deputy Buttimer's concluding remark, that is, that we should not be scoring political points. It is disappointing that the Deputy started his speech with political point-scoring. Nevertheless, I agree with much of what he said. He and I work in Cork city with some fine members of the Garda, including in the Gurranabraher district. I will not name the superintendent in that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the changes he has made to the criteria for allocating special needs assistants have made it more difficult for children to access SNA help when they need it and if he will review these changes. [23451/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The reality for many parents is that this circular is very frightening because it has moved the goal posts. The Minister of State may not care to admit it, but it is going to make it more difficult for students who need SNA support to receive it. That is a fact. We have already seen cases in our constituency offices of children who previously had SNA support and who are now in the process...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: To pick up on the last point, the best people to ascertain whether a pupil needs an SNA are those who carry out the assessment. In carrying out that assessment, they indicate what resources and help a student may need. At present, SNAs are being allocated to schools and unfortunately, the number of SNAs that some schools have does not match the needs of their students and thereafter, a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 5. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views that the recently published Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019 will neglect non-tech or non-business related further education. [23452/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State's comments because it is important that the strategy does not neglect non-tech and non-business related further education and training. Having read the report, that balance seems to be more weighted towards those who are probably at an advanced personal development level and who are ready to upskill and get into high-tech jobs. I note that the strategy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have two brief questions. In relation to the ETBs, because they are such a new entity, some ETBs may be more successful at creating those forums. I wonder what facility is there in place for the individual CEOs to take best practice from each ETB area and how that will be managed. As to my other question, one of the points in the report, on page 19, on how we measure the success of the...

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Given that the new junior cycle is due to commence in September, I hope the review concludes before the end of the year. The Minister of State is being disingenuous when he says he does not know the teachers' unions' concerns because they have not provided a written submission. The Minister of State and Department are very well aware of their concerns. It is unfair to say he cannot...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that his Department will give permission for a school (details supplied) to enter in to a five-year lease agreement with NCE campus in Farranferris, County Cork; if a funding application by the school to fit out additional classrooms needed as a result in a large increase in student numbers in September 2014 and provide a...