Results 4,541-4,560 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Questions on Proposed Legislation (15 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: My party leader raised the financing of institutes of technology, but there is a bigger issue as well. There is no plan or vision from the Government for the third level sector. The Action Plan for Education was published some months ago and it contains only two lines about third level funding. There were a further two lines in the budget stating that a funding plan for third level...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority (15 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 110. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when she proposes to mandate the Policing Authority to carry out a review of Garda districts in accordance with the confidence and supply agreement. [34740/16]

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I met a very nice couple-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I met some couples in my constituency, and I am sure there are others throughout the country, who need surrogacy legislation to be enacted in order to allow them to have a family. What are the Government's plans in relation to that matter?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 22. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the funding and quality issues in the universities and institutes of technology; and his further plans to develop a strategy document for the third level sector. [35410/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The issue is one of considerable importance. It relates not only to the funding and quality issues in our universities but to the lack of a plan from Government for third level, which is of deep concern to many within the sector. It is of deep concern to my party because we believe, with all the challenges the nation is facing, if we have a properly funded, properly developed and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister. The truth is that it is nothing short of remarkable that, aside from the Cassells report in recent times, there is very little there from the Minister's Department in terms of third level. The Minister mentioned the Hunt report and the strategy subsequent to it in 2013. The truth is we are in a completely different space. Our institutes of technology are on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister mentioned that Grangegorman is in the action plan. It is there but there is very little else about capital spending in the third level sector. It is hardly mentioned at all. There is no mention of the core expenditure per student being down by so much in the action plan. What proves the point I make is that when it came to the budget and proper, significant political pressure...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Educational Disadvantage (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will remove the cap on the expansion of the delivering equality of opportunity in schools programme, DEIS; if he will put in place the measures, suggested by the ERSI review of the programme, to taper funding and enhance supports for urban DEIS schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35411/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Educational Disadvantage (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I am putting an urgent question to the Minister which follows from what schools are asking us. It relates to whether the Minister is committed to removing the cap on the expansion of the DEIS scheme. It is a fantastic scheme which was established by the Fianna Fáil Government in 2006. However, the scheme has not expanded significantly since then. Will the Minister put in place...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Educational Disadvantage (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister is right to acknowledge that since we established DEIS, a number of Governments have failed to expand it since 2009. That is a pity because between 2011 and 2013, I think 30 schools were established which have not even been given the opportunity to apply for DEIS status. Since the last identification of schools qualifying under DEIS criteria, communities have changed...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Educational Disadvantage (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: When can schools not currently part of the DEIS programme become part of it? Does the Minister have a timeline for that?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made in his plans to double the number of apprenticeships by 2020; and his views on the barriers to expanding recruitment in the apprenticeship sector. [35412/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: This question seeks to ask the Minister to outline the progress he is making to double the number of apprenticeships by 2020 and if he would describe to the House the barriers there to expanding recruitment in the apprenticeship sector. Will he comment on the gender divide in apprenticeships as well? It is a feature about which people are concerned.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister is holding the fort for the Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, with these questions. I will not complain about a senior Minister doing so but Deputy Halligan was absent during jobs questions as well. I know he is doing important business for the State around the world. That is crucial and we welcome that. The programme for Government's ambition is to double the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Will incentives be put in place for companies to become involved with new apprenticeship schemes? It must be widened not just through demand and new categories of apprenticeships. Companies will have to come on board to provide these. What incentives could be proposed?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Minister and perhaps I will come forward with some ideas for incentivisation as this needs to happen and we need to broaden our horizons as a nation. We must get companies used to this, as apprenticeships are traditionally viewed as something that happen in the construction sector. That is important and there are issues there as well but there is potential for this process if it...

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 32. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied with school provision in County Meath, particularly in expanding towns such as Ashbourne. [35027/16]

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: This is an issue I have raised with the Minister before. I am not convinced the Department has a handle on the need for school provision in County Meath, especially in the growing areas. I mentioned Ashbourne in the question but it arises throughout the county. I look forward to hearing what the Minister has to say.

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (16 Nov 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I will happily explain the reality on the ground to the Minister. I had constituents this week who told me that their family had moved from Wicklow to Ashbourne. There are a lot of people moving to Ashbourne. The child needs to go into senior infants. He was offered junior infants in Gaelscoil na Mí, though he should be in senior infants. He was also offered junior infants in...