Results 6,601-6,620 of 7,604 for speaker:James Bannon

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: 2014 Pre-Budget Submission: Department of Education and Skills (17 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: The reason I raise this is because it is killing the fabric of rural communities. The parish identity is very important in rural areas, with community involvement in local sports and so on. When people move to another parish, they tend to move through the various grades of football in their adopted parish, rather than in the local parish. This is causing problems for some rural parishes at...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: 2014 Pre-Budget Submission: Department of Education and Skills (17 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: There is an increase of €61 million in capital expenditure. I am sure that is because the Government has taken on a new initiative to replace prefabricated buildings around schools, which is proving a worthwhile exercise. How many prefabricated buildings is the State still paying for throughout the country? What is the capital expenditure on prefabricated buildings?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: 2014 Pre-Budget Submission: Department of Education and Skills (17 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: This is a very welcome initiative from the point of view of health and safety, and security, as I know from speaking to boards of management in my constituency and I am sure other members have heard the same thing. It is the way to go because many of those prefab buildings were costing the Department a considerable sum, as outlined in the report. I hope that we will see a greater reduction...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: 2014 Pre-Budget Submission: Department of Education and Skills (17 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: Another factor which has been brought to my notice is that it is cheaper to get insurance for schools where prefabricated buildings are not located in close proximity to the main school. That should be factored in too.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: 2014 Pre-Budget Submission: Department of Education and Skills (17 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: I have a question about the programme for the amalgamation of schools. When will schools which have applied to be amalgamated be informed of when the amalgamation will be sanctioned by the Department?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: 2014 Pre-Budget Submission: Department of Education and Skills (17 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: There is one in Rochfortbridge in County Westmeath.

Report of the Convention on the Constitution: Statements (18 Jul 2013)

James Bannon: The Deputy is still listening to her.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Down's Syndrome Education Equality: Discussion (11 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: The previous question on the general allocation model of the block hours was the one that I meant to bring up. That is where there is a problem, where it is based on school size and has nothing to do with the numbers of students requiring support.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Down's Syndrome Education Equality: Discussion (11 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: The only person who can really address this is the Minister. The Minister has written to the Down's syndrome association, as I understand it, stating now was not the time for to re-classify certain disabilities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Down's Syndrome Education Equality: Discussion (11 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: The Department of Education and Skills has also stated it will not do it in the short term. That is where the problem lies and the only person who can answer that is the Minister himself. We need to bring the Minister before this committee as soon as possible to get further clarification on this issue.

Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: He was there for 14 years.

Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: I compliment the Taoiseach and the Government on enacting 124 Bills since the Government came into office.

Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: That is a record for the House.

Order of Business (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: Much of it was legislation to get rid of quangos that were created by the previous Administration. One Bill I would like to see brought forward is the sports Ireland Bill, which is to amalgamate the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority. It is urgently needed because both organisations are doing the same work.

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: I wish to share time with Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd, a Minister who adopts a hands-on approach to any portfolio he holds. He is very approachable for all colleagues in the House. The Gas Regulation Bill 2013 is part of the process for the disposal of State assets and being pursued as a commitment under the EU-IMF programme which was...

Gas Regulation Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: Half of the proceeds of the sale will be available to fund commercial employment enhancing projects, with the other half going towards paying down our debt. When the Government took office two and a half years ago, most of the proceeds from the sale of State assets were to be used to pay off the debt, but the Government has negotiated that half of the proceeds would be used for job creation...

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Invalidity Pension Appeals (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: 552. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the delay in processing an appeal for invalidity benefit in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36928/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: 993. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of police reservists who commenced work as police reserves with the force that are still with the force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36875/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reserve (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: 994. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason police reservists have been discriminated against in An Garda Siochana in that they cannot join the main police force when they cross 35 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36876/13]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

James Bannon: 1301. To ask the Minister for Health the reason for the increase in the number of medical card refusals particularly in cases where applicants are seriously ill; the reason mortgages/home loans and so on are now not being taken into account when assessing applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37012/13]