Results 121-140 of 7,247 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Site Acquisitions (20 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 626. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if, after recent meetings with the Caherlistrange-Kilcoona community council, and having seen first hand the site in County Galway, she will facilitate the purchase of the lands, eight acres approximately, on behalf of the Irish people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2733/15]

Mother and Baby Homes Commission of Investigation: Motion (Resumed) (21 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: First, the State has many questions to answer in this regard. What has gone on down through the years is horrendous and I welcome the survivors who are present in the Gallery today. In the Magdalen laundries and the mother and baby homes, people suffered. This was in an Ireland where one could nearly say a blanket was put over matters, there was quietness and nobody talked about the wrongs...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: (Resumed) Consumers Association of Ireland and Insurance Ireland (21 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I thank the witnesses for their presentation. In terms of insurance, if they want paperwork to verify that people who have comprehensive insurance have been sneakily done out of this money because of the small print, I will give it to them in a few minutes. I have dealt with people with comprehensive insurance who thought they were covered for everything but who today are left with bills...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: (Resumed) Consumers Association of Ireland and Insurance Ireland (21 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: (Resumed) Consumers Association of Ireland and Insurance Ireland (21 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I can give the witnesses the details in five minutes if they want them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Fuel Fraud: (Resumed) Consumers Association of Ireland and Insurance Ireland (21 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Would Mr. Thompson be able to take up the matter with the insurance providers if we were to forward cases where the complainants had comprehensive insurance for years?

An Bille um an gCeathrú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Comhaltaí de Thithe an Oireachtais) 2014: An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-fourth Amendment of the Constitution (Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas) Bill 2014: Second Stage [Private Members] (23 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The Deputy's party did not do a good job.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has negotiated a summer works grant scheme for which schools may apply; the size of the budget available for the scheme; when applications will be accepted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3486/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Has the Minister negotiated a summer works grant scheme for which schools may apply? What is the size of the budget available? When will applications be accepted?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: This is unacceptable. Thankfully, we are supposed to have turned the corner. The most important issue for any country is to start with the basics - namely, with education. We are all aware of the cuts that affected all schools throughout the country during the recession. We must get our priorities right and decide where are we going. Schools, especially the smaller ones, throughout the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I understand that more children are starting in school and that there is more pressure on schools. We welcome the announcements regarding schools that are being built. That is not a problem. I have looked around the country, and there is a certain degree of waste here and there in all Departments. We put prefabs in place when we should have looked at the bigger picture. I urge the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the pupil teacher ratio in two, three and four-teacher schools will be reduced prior to the commencement of the new school year in September; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3487/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I ask the Minister for Education and Skills about the pupil-teacher ratio, especially in schools with two, three and four teachers. The numbers in three-teacher schools has increased over recent years from 48 to 56. Is there a plan in the next school year to change it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: My first day in the House was budget day and I saw a beautiful document about the extra teachers to be employed around the country. The previous Minister increased the pupil-teacher ratio and some schools have lost teachers. To clarify the situation, is the Minister saying the teachers who were lost as a result of the increase in the pupil-teacher ratio will not be replaced? Are these...

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the threshold relating to the third level grants scheme will be raised to accommodate the children of working persons, including teachers, who can no longer afford to pay for third level education due to the imposition of pension levies and the universal social charge; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3338/15]

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: The purpose of this question is to ask whether the threshold for the third level grants scheme will be raised to accommodate the children of working people in middle Ireland who can no longer afford to pay third level fees as a result of the imposition of pension levies, the universal social charge, etc. Statistics I received in the past week indicate that 8% of people who work in the...

Other Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not talking specifically about teachers but about all the people working who may have large mortgages. These include young families who find the going tough as a result of the various cuts down through the years. It is a sad day if those going out to work every day are now being put in circumstances in which they cannot afford to send their youngsters to college. I have seen this...

Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I sympathise with all of the families who have suffered in this. I reiterate Deputy Naughten's comments that Portiuncula Hospital in Ballinasloe is a good hospital. Let expectant parents not be afraid. However, we need a proper and transparent investigation which is not biased in any way and the end game of which is not to try to close the hospital. We have seen enough of this through the...

Topical Issue Debate: Maternity Services (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Everything will be done to resolve this and an independent inquiry will take place, but the one thing the people, particularly those in Ballinasloe and its surrounding area, need to hear the Minister state is the hospital will continue to deliver babies. A sad reality in Ireland in recent years, before the Minister took over, was that when a hospital cried for help because of staff shortages...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (27 Jan 2015)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if adequate funding will be provided to maximise the potential of the apprenticeship training centre in Mount Lucas, County Westmeath; the rent that is being paid to Bord na Móna for the property; the duration of the lease; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3341/15]