Results 7,801-7,820 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: The process of redeployment of staff from the Ennis local office is ongoing. While every effort has been made to identify redeployment opportunities in Ennis it has not proved possible to accommodate staff locally. In these circumstances the terms of the Croke Park Agreement are being invoked and the details of all staff to be redeployed will be registered on the Public Appointments System...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: The person named commenced in REPS 4 on I November, 2008 and has received payment for the years 2008 and 2009. His 2010 payment application has now been processed and payment will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2010. The 50% advance payment, which issued on 18 October and the further 30% payment, which issued on 1 December, were both on the basis of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage, as a number of other land parcels listed on the application of the person named required re-digitisation....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: It is intended that the annual forestry premium payments will issue before the end of April to applicants who have returned the claim form for their forestry payment (Form 4) before then.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: This case concerns the lodgment of an application for grant-aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme after the decision to suspend the Scheme for new applications on 14 October 2008. Legal advice is being obtained by my Department in relation to the validity of the decisions taken by the Agriculture Appeals Office. No decision will be taken in relation to payment in the case...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 14 April 2010. The 50% advance payment, which issued on 18 October, was on the basis of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage as a number of other land parcels listed on the application of the person named required re-digitisation. Following re-digitisation, two land parcels were found to be...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: The contract for printing the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme documentation was awarded to Creative Design and Print, Westpoint, Wexford following a competitive tendering process carried out in accordance with relevant national procurement guidelines.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied for Category B of the 2010 National Reserve. Category B caters for Farmers who commenced farming after 15th May 2008. Applicants are also required to meet certain other criteria including income limits and educational qualifications. The number of entitlements to be allocated may not exceed the number of eligible hectares acquired and declared on the 2010 Single...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Feb 2011)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2010. Maps submitted by the person named outlining required changes to land parcel boundaries declared by him in the 2010 application were found to be overlapping with the land under a forestry contract. Following clarification received from the relevant parties this...

School Staffing (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the commitment in the Programme for National Recovery Plan 2010 - 2014 concerning additional posts in the education sector will be honoured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5639/11]

School Staffing (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his response. This is my first public opportunity to wish the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, and the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, every success with the important work of the Department of Education and Skills. The programme for Government clearly states that the Government will endeavour to protect front line services. In...

School Staffing (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister mentioned how all Departments had their overall Estimates reduced. The 2011 provision for the Department of Education and Skills emerged relatively unscathed. Is the Minister committed to the maintenance of class sizes and the pupil-teacher ratio at their current levels and to the employment of primary and post-primary teachers to meet demographic needs? The Minister has only...

School Staffing (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: At this early stage, I assume the Minister is in a position to say whether he sees potential within the overall Croke Park agreement to meet efficiencies and achieve progress in this regard.

Education and Training Programmes (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the additional training and education places provided for in Budget 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5640/11]

Education and Training Programmes (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. The Minister indicates in his reply that substantial provision was made in budget 2011 for further education, and training also through different methods including FÁS. The Minister rightly outlined the new additional initiatives announced in that budget including the €20 million multi-annual higher education labour market fund, the expanded...

Education and Training Programmes (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his commitment to ensuring that adequate provision is made. Both the public and private sectors are too lethargic in availing of these schemes at different times and perhaps the Croke Park agreement could ensure that the blockages put in place in the past to slow progress in the public service could be availed of also. Could the Minister let me know if the Department...

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 7: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his priorities for the next three months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5536/11]

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply in which he spoke about school accommodation and infrastructure in general. Considerable progress has been made in upgrading and providing new accommodation at primary and second level, as well as at third level in institutes of technology, PLC colleges and universities. The Minister's predecessor, the former Tánaiste and Minister for Education and...

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: Does the Minister agree that the devolved programme, summer works programme and contingency programme have been very successful? I have seen schools in my constituency transformed by small amounts of grant aid. I urge the Minister to ensure these programmes are continued because they have given good value for money.

Literacy Levels (24 Mar 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister may have pre-empted me when he said a revision of the curriculum is necessary to ensure literacy and numeracy skills are adequate for primary school going children.