Results 681-700 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Feb 2008)
John Curran: Question 159: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the funding or grants available for a person who intends taking a course (details supplied). [8654/08]
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Question 410: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a proposed building project at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 20. [8879/08]
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (4 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Question 411: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a proposed building project at schools (details supplied) in County Dublin. [8880/08]
- Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (4 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Question 584: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the names of all 13 members of the board of the Private Residential Tenancies Board; the legal, academic and sectoral backgrounds for each member. [9453/08]
- Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (5 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Question 265: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if he plans to reopen the swimming pool programme; and when this might occur. [9597/08]
- Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (6 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Question 240: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the percentage of employees in each local authority that have a physical disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9853/08]
- Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (11 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Question 466: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when a decision will be made regarding an application by a person on behalf of their spouse (detail supplied). [10137/08]
- Leaders' Questions (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: The Deputy should practice what he preaches.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: I wish to share time with Deputies Charlie O'Connor, Niall Blaney and Martin Mansergh. While I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate, I do not support the motion. Reading a print-out of the text of this week's Private Members' business in my constituency office on Friday afternoon, I was taken aback by its lack of detail. One of the shortest motions to come before the House,...
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: I will address that issue. The solution, according to the motion, is to double the capitation grant without trying to evaluate the scale of financial difficulty.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Its promise is to double the capitation grant within the lifetime of the Government, not within one year. The cost of the measure proposed in the motion is in the region of â¬80 million. Is that the best value for money or return on expenditure we can achieve in the education system?
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Many speakers did not make that argument. The previous speaker, for example, did not focus specifically on increasing capitation grants. Instead, he would like additional money spent elsewhere, specifically on reducing class sizes. This would not be achieved by increasing capitation grants.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: We must determine how the money being spent will have the greatest impact and achieve the best outcome. The motion, as framed, does not consider this aspect. I am often lectured by Opposition Deputies on the fact that the most recent Fine Gael-Labour Party coalition was the first Government to return a budget surplus.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Did it increase capitation grants? The Opposition frequently calls on the Government to index link various increases. The Government has gone further and introduced increases in capitation grants in primary education well in excess of inflation. Other grants are also available. The motion should have considered the issue in much greater detail.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: No. Even in the current year, with much talk of less money being available and the economy not growing at the same rate as in previous years, the education budget has been increased by almost â¬700 million or 8%, which is ahead of inflation and in excess of the increases allocated to many other Departments. These additional funds are being spent in a variety of ways. To address a point...
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: With the education budget increasing, choices need to be made as to where these additional resources should be allocated.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: The motion calls for the capitation grant to be doubled. Not every school is in financial difficulty and their difficulties are not always of the scale the Deputies suggest. For this reason, the motion is incorrect. I am in favourââ
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: I am suggesting that not all schools need the rate of increase proposed in the motion.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: I will address those questions. The capitation fee is not the only funding provided to schools to cover their day-to-day expenses. Reading the motion, one could arrive at that conclusion. They also receive the ancillary services grant of â¬150 per student per annum, a substantial amount, and the capitation grant of â¬178 per pupil per annum.
- Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)
John Curran: Even in the current year, the capitation grant increased by â¬15 or 9%.