Results 3,661-3,680 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (26 May 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 899. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding streams available to primary and post-primary schools to support the teaching of music within schools, including the purchase of instruments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20602/15]

Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: It was interesting to listen to Deputy Michael McNamara voice his concerns about the proposal before us. He hit on the crucial issue - connectivity. I do not need to tell the Minister that, as an island nation, connectivity is essential to us for our economic development, the tourism industry, exports and imports and our overall prosperity. This is a very small island on the periphery of...

Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Five minutes.

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (9 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Most of the statements made in this debate will be repeated by various speakers before midnight or when the debate resumes tomorrow. While it is worthwhile to listen to some of the contributions, much of the information we have heard is already in the public domain. The developments of recent weeks have been extraordinary to say the least. Deputy Catherine Murphy, speaking on the First...

Draft Commission of Investigation (Certain matters concerning transactions entered into by IBRC) Order 2015: Motion (9 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: It probably was. That was the very first contribution I made in the Chamber and here I am four years later and we are still discussing the same individual and his business dealings. Given the fact we were discussing the recommendations of the Moriarty tribunal as far back as March and April 2011, it says a lot about the democratic revolution the Government promised that those...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Aids and Appliances Provision (9 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 744. To ask the Minister for Health if he is aware of the recent research from the University of Limerick stating that the standards of wheelchairs provided to wheelchair users is not meeting their needs; that the wheelchairs provided by the Health Service Executive fall below the standards set by the World Health Organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21730/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (9 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 976. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to the pilot of new model for allocating resource teachers to schools, the cost of adding the additional resource teacher posts; the breakdown of the 6,454 posts between primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21929/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (9 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 1012. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the important work done in the behaviour support classroom in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; that this was a vital support and necessity given that it was in a Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) area and all of the feeder schools were Delivering Equality of Opportunity in School...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the 2014 ESRI school leavers study that provided conclusive evidence of the importance of guidance counselling to students from lower socio-economic groups; if she is further aware that schools in that bracket cannot provide sufficient guidance counselling services within their current teaching allocation; and her plans to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is the Minister aware of the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI, school leavers study that provided conclusive evidence of the importance of guidance counselling to students from lower socio-economic groups? Is she further aware that schools in that group cannot provide sufficient guidance counselling services within their current teaching allocation? What are her plans to rectify...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: The changes to the general allocation model for guidance counsellors, making them ex-quota, has entrenched inequality in schools. All of the research indicates that. If one looks at schools within the free education system and those within the fee paying system, there is a clear difference in the amount of guidance counselling being provided. Obviously that is due to the fact that those in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister talked about the additional supports that were put in place on the back of the cuts announced in the budget. A response to a parliamentary question I tabled stated that there is a range of supports available to promote and support the well-being of students. It stated that National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists are available to offer their advice and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 5. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the number of schools which had to close on 22 May 2015 due to their use as polling stations for the referendums; if she will provide details on the impact this has on lost school days; if she will agree to liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to draw up a plan to find alternative venues for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: On the previous issue, unfortunately, in my constituency there are no alternative locations either bar the local school. It may be different in rural areas but certainly in urban areas the school is the most appropriate venue. My question is to ask the Minister's views on the recent evaluation report into DEIS, her proposals arising from that report and actions her Department will undertake...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will ask some questions in my supplementaries about some of her proposals but regarding the terms of reference which are being drawn up, it is important as an Opposition spokesperson to point out some of the issues I believe should be included in those terms of reference. The first is to examine the issue of funding. There is no doubt that the Government has done its best to try to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: When we look at the differences, the gap is somewhere in the region of 0.2%. One of the proposals the Minister has examined is the establishment of an interdepartmental group. When will that happen? What Departments will be represented? What form of consultation will take place? Will a timeframe be put on that? When will it report back? Will there be an interim report? Given that we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Would it be possible to get a copy of the draft terms of reference and for myself and Deputy McConalogue to be allowed have some input into the process?

Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I fully support the initiative the Department is undertaking in regard to apprenticeships, which I believe are a key economic driver now and for the future. We need to learn from the past situation where we tailored our apprenticeships for the here and now, for example, for construction. When the construction area blew up, we ended up with people without skills in other areas. We need to...

Other Questions: Gender Equality (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 12. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which she expects to receive the Higher Education Authority report on gender equality in third level colleges, following the recent audit which the authority initiated. [21931/15]

Other Questions: Gender Equality (10 Jun 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: The reason I put down this question is due to the significant concerns at NUI Galway where four female lecturers have taken gender equality cases, three of whom have taken High Court cases and one who has gone to a tribunal. Professor Pat O’Connor, from the University of Limerick, an expert in gender equality, has turned down an invitation from the task force to advise it on gender...