Results 14,941-14,960 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Closures (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: The Minister has now admitted that the Department made the decision before the new ETB met. That is the suspicion in the local community and the Minister has confirmed that now. The decision was made at the end of August, just days before the new ETB was about to meet, at which point it might have had a different opinion. The consultations the Minister mentioned took place after the ETB...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Closures (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: The decision was made in November 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to meet a deputation (details supplied) regarding the delivery of second level education in north-west County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42593/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not responded to communications, documents and reports provided to him from local community groups (details supplied); the reason he has not acknowledged or provided replies to the significant information submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42827/19]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 248. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the agencies and organisations represented at the recent beef task force meeting; the issues discussed; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42828/19]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Access of Girls to Quality Education in Developing Countries: Discussion (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms O'Mahony. I apologise for missing the earlier presentation, I was speaking in the Dáil Chamber. I now call Ms Pender of ActionAid.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Access of Girls to Quality Education in Developing Countries: Discussion (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank Ms Pender. I also thank all of the witnesses for their succinct and comprehensive presentations this morning. I call Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, who has some questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Access of Girls to Quality Education in Developing Countries: Discussion (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: Do any of our guests wish to comment on the Deputy's remarks?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Access of Girls to Quality Education in Developing Countries: Discussion (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: I will now invite Deputy Collins. There may be some crossover in the questions. We will bring our guests back in later.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Access of Girls to Quality Education in Developing Countries: Discussion (17 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: I refer to the Deputy's very apt comment. In her statement after the budget, Suzanne Keatinge, CEO of Dóchas, stated that there is clear evidence from all surveys that 94% of people support Government aid for poorer countries and aid that aims to eliminate and deal with injustice, conflict and hunger. This means that there is a very strong attachment in this country. Despite the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Insurance (23 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 48. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if insurance contributions will be credited to farmers for pension purposes for the time they were in receipt of farm assist; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43631/19]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 148. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the lack of a specialist clinician (details supplied) in the child development team in counties Cavan and Monaghan is causing inadequate support to be provided to families with complex issues; when the post will be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43733/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (23 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 187. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her plans to increase the grant aid in 2020 towards the upgrading or provision of new childcare places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43849/19]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Childcare Services Funding (23 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 188. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the level of grant aid will be increased to enable community childcare providers upgrade or provide additional childcare places in circumstances in which there is a proven demand for such facilities and in which large scale expenditure would be necessary to undertake such projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43850/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes Funding (23 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 196. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated for the LEADER programme in 2019; the expenditure to date; the projected expenditure by year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43834/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 9. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to set out the likely timescale for the allocation of funding to local authorities in 2020 for local improvement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43822/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: 28. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to set out the level of funding to be allocated to local authorities in 2020 for the local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43821/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: As the Minister knows and Deputy Browne put it so eloquently earlier, the local improvement scheme is particularly important for many rural parishes. It is not simply for one or two houses sited along individual lanes. In many instances, it can serve up to six or more families. In my county there is a significant backlog of applications running to almost ten years. In County Monaghan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. As people who represent rural constituencies, the Minister and I are conscious of how important the scheme has been during the years. I am keen to see more money invested to try to reduce the substantial backlogs in many counties. The funding allocated to my county in recent years has been drawn down. Knowing many of the lanes involved and families who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme (24 Oct 2019)

Brendan Smith: I assure the Minister that in respect of both County Cavan and County Monaghan the entire allocations will be drawn down before the end of the year. The local authorities in both counties would be very glad to spend an even greater allocation next year. If the Minister were to double or even treble the funding provided, I assure him that it would be spent very well in both counties. In the...