Results 3,861-3,880 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is what he said about him.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Let me finish, Minister.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will quote the Minister.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is the Minister's problem. Keep your mouth shut and your ears open, and we might actually get-----

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I just did.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: No. How dare you, Minister. You come in here week after week-----

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have the floor, so you might tell the Minister to dún do bhéal.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Do not talk to me about petty party politics. This is what the Minister said about the leading social justice campaigner, probably in the history of this State: "I'm used to those comments from him. I haven't heard him say one positive thing yet in relation to anything. I'd rather people were more constructive". What a load of rubbish. I will now give the Minister another reality...

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Well, in Cork he does not because he does not have any Labour councillors. That is his legacy in Cork.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: He controls nothing in Cork and after the next general election he will not have any Deputies either.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: To be honest, he will not even be here, only it is no difference to him.

Social Housing Policy: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Sep 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Do not talk to me about debates. I know very well the effects of homelessness and the Minister knows the reasons why. It affects my family directly and I have spoken about that in the past. The responses I got from some of the Minister's own party colleagues go to show that it is not just he who is arrogant. The whole Labour Party is arrogant when it comes to homelessness. In the time...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of reducing the primary school pupil-teacher ratio by one point for each of the next five years, accounting for rising demographics; and the cost of additional school and classroom building to cater for reduced class sizes during each of these years. [34191/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister indicated that the cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio by one point would be €18 million for this year. Based on demographic changes, I expect that the cost of reducing the pupil-teacher ratio by one point every year for the next five years will exceed the €90 million estimate provided by the Minister. The rise in student numbers will result in increased...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is an exercise we should undertake. All the evidence-based research suggests that smaller class size equates to greater educational output. As a State with one of the highest pupil-teacher ratios in Europe, we must move to a policy of reducing class size. The additional places the Minister refers to over the next six years will only meet the demographic rise. I am trying to show that...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: 127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that parents in County Cork are finding it difficult to access mainstream secondary school places for their children with autism, in view of the unavailability of resources at a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will set out her plans to rectify the lack of mainstream places for children with autism as a...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is the Minister aware of the issues relating to access to mainstream education for pupils with autism in Cork city - as opposed to County Cork, as stated in the question?

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister for not naming the school, although I gave her the information - that would be unfair. I have raised the matter because I was talking to the parents of a young child who will go to secondary school next year. The primary school he attends offers excellent services, but the secondary school they hope to enrol him in has, unfortunately, told them that it will not be able...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: The information I have concerns schools within the city boundaries. There are only four places available for children with autism. This does not involve the allocation of resource hours, because I recognise that the Department will provide them where they are needed. As the Minister knows, for students with autism, the availability of a timeout, home room or base room - whatever way it is...

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (6 Oct 2015)

Jonathan O'Brien: I fully endorse what Deputy Durkan has said in respect of mandatory reporting. That is an important element that needs to be implemented in order that we can get a more accurate picture of the types of bullying and the age groups, cohorts and different incidents. When the Minister published the guidelines, one of the recommendations was to review those guidelines after two years to see if...