Results 321-340 of 2,343 for speaker:Michael Colreavy

School Uniforms (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: As for this question, my party colleague, Deputy Crowe, raised this issue with the Minister more than a year ago. The Minister made a commitment to consider implementing measures that would help to alleviate the burden on hard-pressed parents who are obliged to pay for school uniforms. While this may be stating the obvious, a growing number of families are struggling to pay for even the...

Expenditure Reviews (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I thank the Minister. We raised this matter in the same week the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 was debated on Second Stage in the House. That legislation is designed to bring together four existing bodies into a single entity, the Qualification and Assurance Authority of Ireland, in an effort to concentrate services and bring a range of benefits to...

Special Educational Needs (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: I have a particular interest in this issue, which affects many schools throughout the country, including the two schools referred to in the question tabled by my colleague, Deputy Martin Ferris. We are calling on the Minister to reverse the cuts in funding for the autistic spectrum disorder units at Scoil Mhuire and St. Senan's national school in Enniscorthy. We commend the teachers,...

Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Some 27% of primary and 38% of secondary Irish-medium schools are on the waiting list for the refurbishment of buildings, yet they have not been included in the five-year plan. Without inclusion in the programme, many of these schools face an uncertain future. It is unacceptable that 60% of Irish-medium schools established in the past 25 years are in temporary accommodation. These are in...

Religious and Sexual Discrimination (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Last Thursday was International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia and the theme of this year's event was combating homophobic and transphobic bullying in our schools. Rather fittingly, on the same day as that set aside to highlight awareness of this issue, the inaugural meeting of the anti-bullying forum also took place at the Department of Education and Skills headquarters in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Question 32: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions he has put in place for schools in which their July Programme overseer has been withdrawn. [25796/12]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 May 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Question 56: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of all schools on a county basis that have had their funding withdrawn for their 2012 July Programme overseer. [25797/12]

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (7 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Question 39: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his assessment of the way the increased focus on commercialisation by Science Foundation Ireland may impact on research. [27326/12]

Written Answers — Research Centres Programme: Research Centres Programme (7 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Question 46: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his assessment of the way recent changes by Science Foundation Ireland with regard to the pre-selection commercialisation test will impact on the quality and diversity of research. [27325/12]

Jobseeker's Benefit (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Question 117: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her response to the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education review on the status of casual workers here in view of the recommendation that entitlement to jobseeker's payment should be calculated on the basis of hours worked rather than days. [28050/12]

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: One thing is beyond debate and beyond doubt when we consider the Irish planning and development process. We went through a decade of madness, badness or both in planning and development. That madness or badness has brought the nation to its knees. I welcome tonight's Private Members' motion. It is extremely hypocritical that it was moved by Fianna Fáil given that the ink is not yet dry...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: If Waldorf and Statler could wait until the director comes on-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: It is important to note that all the local authorities, bar Donegal, where investigations were to take place are controlled by Fine Gael and Labour, the Government parties. This action is symptomatic of the culture under which Fianna Fáil operated during its period in government. In February 2011 the people were promised a change in the political culture when they elected this Government....

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: ----- into planning irregularities-----

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: -----that little or nothing has changed.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, what is the order of debate here? Do I have the floor?

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: There is also a problem with the way local authorities are run. They are far removed from being democratic institutions. They are a cesspit of bureaucracy and unaccountability.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: If councillors had the power to challenge the decisions that were made, there might have been a greater chance that some of the more disastrous decisions on planning would not have been made. However, councils are now controlled by county managers and decisions are increasingly being reverted centrally to the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. If there is to be...

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: Unless this is examined, we will have learned nothing from the madness and badness of the last ten years.

Independent Inquiries into Planning Irregularities: Motion (12 Jun 2012)

Michael Colreavy: In conclusion, those hundreds and thousands who are living in overpriced houses in half finished estates and every man, woman and child who is paying the cost of the failure of our regulatory system deserve open and honest answers. There can be no hiding place for incompetence or for crooks who are benefiting from the pain of Irish people.