Results 3,301-3,320 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Other Questions: Technological Universities (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: On the amount of money that has been spent on the proposed merger, the figure given to the Committee of Public Accounts, PAC, was €400,000. The answer was that that money could be saved through efficiencies and other sources, but what those other sources would be was not quite clear. There was mention of looking at other possible mergers and money being saved on those. I understand...

Other Questions: Technological Universities (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is okay.

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I fully endorse what Deputy McConalogue has said. He has cited an example of the real issues that parents and teachers are facing whereby a school that was in the programme is no longer included. There can be various reasons for that, including planning issues, objections or the length of time involved. As I have said before, the idea of a five-year planning programme needs to be examined....

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is one of those areas where we need to have a serious conversation, not only during Question Time. The Cassells report will look at the overall funding of higher education but we need to look at some of the policy decisions, and not only of this and the previous Governments. Let us do so on a non-political basis, if at all possible, because we are talking about education. One of...

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: The current system entrenches inequality.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has had discussions with the Department of Justice and Equality on the matter of the recent High Court ruling on English language schools; and if she will provide an update on this matter. [3351/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views regarding Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board's failure to meet parents of pupils in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare, and its general lack of communication; if she will meet with parents of pupils in the school; and if she will ensure primary and post-primary students will not have to share a building. [3353/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Places (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 142. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties in getting teachers to agree to facilitate a student for a ten-week teaching placement in view of the fact that they believe the length is overly disruptive on the yearly plans of work; and if she has spoken to the Teaching Council regarding this matter. [3350/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Places (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has spoken to the Teaching Council regarding the potential for introducing a streamlined approach for teacher training colleges to find places for their students' teaching practice placements in view of the projected increase in numbers and the current lack of a standardised approach. [3349/15]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Early Child Care Education (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 324. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the cost of introducing a universal pre-school session of 3.5 hours per day, five days a week for all children aged between three and five years. [3328/15]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HIQA Inspections (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 339. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the recent Health Information and Quality Authority reports into centres run by an organisation (details supplied) in County Cork; if a timeframe for rectifying issues that HIQA identified has been provided; the number of persons who may have been subject to assault in these centres; if there are plans to address staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 434. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual budget the Student Universal Support Ireland has for advertising and for communications each year since its establishment. [3408/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Disputes (27 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 470. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on discussions with teachers since the strike action on 22 January 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3703/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers who availed of the voluntary redundancy scheme in 2013 and 2014; and if these teachers were primary, secondary, or third level, in tabular form. [4017/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Information Technology in Schools: Camara Ireland (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank Mr. Daly and Mr. Fitzsimons for their presentation. Mr. Daly referred to a number of outputs Camara could achieve if it received co-funding - for example, the distribution of 64,000 computers and re-using computers that Departments no longer use. Is that a set figure? Has Camara discussed it with anyone or does it come from experience? I agree that the main issues in education are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Information Technology in Schools: Camara Ireland (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: One of the biggest issues facing schools, even if they get the computers and the training, is the ongoing cost of maintenance and licensing. Do the witnesses have any ideas on that? As I am sure they are aware, many schools are facing budget deficits, not to mind being able to provide extra budgets for the maintenance of computers and the purchase of licences. Do the witness have any ideas...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: There will be opportunities for the Naval Reserve to gain more training. Have we considered increasing their number?

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 1:In page 3, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:“Amendment of section 65(1) of Principal Act 2. Section 65(1) of the Principal Act is amended by the substitution of the following subsection for subsection (1):“(1) The Ombudsman Commission is to consist of 1 member, who is to be appointed by the President on -(a) the nomination of the...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: This amendment changes the structure of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission under section 65(1) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 to provide for a single Garda ombudsman instead of three members. A single ombudsman would ensure greater accountability and prevent the possibility of dissenting opinions or diverging findings.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Garda Síochána (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (28 Jan 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Deputy Mac Lochlainn has asked me to press the amendment and he will examine the Official Report of this debate before revisiting the matter on Report Stage. He may resubmit a similar amendment but for now I will be pressing the amendment.