Results 2,721-2,740 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: This question is about a gaelscoil on the north side of Cork city and an issue it has with extending its lease because of the Department's failure to give it an assurance that it will continue to fund it as a public school.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is a matter of urgency. Some parents are wondering whether the NCE and Department will sign this lease. The school wants only a letter of comfort from the Department stating it will continue to receive funding for the next five years. The landlord in question refuses to sign any lease until he receives the letter, which has not been forthcoming.

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: On my behalf and that of my party, we wish the Tánaiste and his family well in the future. Last week, the Government launched a plan whose aim was to end homelessness by 2016. It is a very laudable plan that every Member of this House wants to see succeed. We will work with the Government in trying to achieve that goal. In recent months many councils in the State have faced an...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: That arrangement is not trickling down to local community welfare officers, as I am sure any Member of the House can confirm to the Tánaiste. Unfortunately increasing numbers of people in the depths of despair are presenting to my constituency office because they are being forced out of their private rented accommodation. I agree that raising rent supplement caps does not represent a...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is the solution. Raising the rent supplement limits is a temporary solution, but it is crucial for the type of people who present at my constituency office and have a demand from a landlord to vacate a property because he is increasing the rent which he knows he could get from another tenant. The reality is that we have a housing crisis and €100 million or €50 million...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Some €20 million.

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Give us the funding at local authority level and we will do the job.

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Tánaiste is blaming local authority members rather than the Government of which he is a member. He has learned nothing.

Order of Business (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I wish to inquire about two tranches of legislation. The first relates to a Private Members' Bill which is currently on Committee Stage, the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014. On Monday, the report of the independent inspector in respect of the decision by Westmeath County Council to incorporate setback distances for wind turbines into the council draft development plan was launched....

Order of Business (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: We were informed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, in response to a question from Deputy McDonald, that it would be taken on 11 June, but it was not included on the list, published yesterday, of legislation to be completed before the summer recess.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties are provided with the assistance needed for the leaving certificate this year. [23275/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 25. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will approve an application by a school (details supplied) to set up a new gaelcholáiste on the northside of Cork city to cater for the increase in children attending Irish-medium primary education and parents who want their children to be educated through Irish. [23279/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) has had a manager in place managing the school, and not a board of management, for over a year; the reason the manager of the school has reversed the decision to take in three first year classes for September 2015 and is now only enrolling two first year classes; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the board of management of a school (details supplied), with the support of parents and staff, has decided to enrol a junior infants class for September 2014 in order to secure the long-term future of the school in a situation of falling numbers of pupils and the school being only allowed to take...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will try to get straight to the questions. The presentation from the INTO, as always, was straight to the point. There is an opportunity for the Department today to try to outline the rationale for the decision to initially allocate money for a school book rental scheme for that percentage of schools that did not operate one. A explanation has never been given as to why it was targeting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The energy and education scheme was piloted in 2009 and was rolled out by the SEAI in 2012 and it gives schools the potential to make savings. However, the fact that it has reached less than 10% of schools is an issue. Clearly, the Minister's press release did not cut it with regard to publicising the scheme. Is the Department considering issuing a circular or engaging with schools on a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Did that advice come from the Attorney General?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: One of the roles set out for the Minister under section 7 of the 1998 Act is to plan and co-ordinate support services. Surely the introduction of a school book rental scheme across all schools would coming under the heading of planning and co-ordinating support services for students. I accept that the Attorney General has stated that the matter falls outside the Minister's remit.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Mr. Ryan referred to questionnaires being be sent to post-primary schools. I welcome that they will seek information other than that which indicates whether they have book rental schemes. If I understood what Mr. Ryan stated, the questionnaire will seek to establish whether their schemes apply to both the junior and leaving certificate cycles. It will be necessary to dig a little deeper...