Results 1,621-1,640 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is there a timeframe on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will get on to Ted Owens.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is there anything the Minister can do proactively to ensure that happens?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied to allow primary school classes to double up to numbers in excess of 40 children per classroom, in order that teachers can, as mandated by Croke Park 2, cover for colleagues who are on certified sick leave because substitution is no longer permitted. [12113/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I take on board that it is now a matter for the unions to decide whether they accept the proposals, but does the Minister think it is satisfactory that, because the first day of sick leave absence will not be covered by a substitute, we could have class sizes of up to 40 students? I am not asking the Minister to comment on the proposals in the agreement. I am asking for his opinion as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The proposal is that for the first day of sick leave, there will be no substitution and classes may have to double up in schools.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the delay in introducing legislation to ensure unemployed teachers get priority for available teaching posts has led to a situation in which in December 2012, 22 out of 104 retired primary teachers employed in schools were on long-term contracts and that 82 retired teachers were employed as short-term substitutes; and if he will make a statement...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: While 153 retired teachers is a small number relative to the overall amount, given the number of newly qualified teachers who are struggling to find work, it is unacceptable that the circular issued by the Department is being flouted by so many schools. It is up to the schools to employ the teachers, but when the Department issues a circular instructing that priority must be given to newly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Was the third reason location?

Other Questions: EPSEN Act 2004 (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Depending on to whom one speakers the cost of full implementation of the EPSEN Act ranges from €235 million to €500 million. The first thing we need to do is determine the real cost. In terms of the services currently being provided, I do not believe there is sufficient co-operation between the Departments of Education and Skills and Health in this regard. The HSE is...

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am not sure if the Minister is familiar with the EU kids on-line survey quoted in the question and some of the statistics arising therefrom. It showed that 14% of children in Ireland aged between nine and 16 felt the effects of bullying for about two months after the incident occurred, compared to the European average of about 2%. In itself, that figure is a shocking statistic. I...

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister for not ruling out the possibility of introducing legislation once we have seen the implementation of the action plan. The Minister spoke about homophobic bullying and transphobic bullying. I commend him on sponsoring the Stand Up campaign which, I understand, he launched last night.

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is a welcome initiative. If we are serious about the issue we need to look at section 37, which I presume the Department is doing. Has the Minister any plans to bring forward legislation to correct that situation?

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Does the Minister expect it to progress and that it will get the support of the Government?

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am sure the Minister will agree that the casualisation of work practices in the teaching profession is having a demoralising effect on newly qualified teachers. It is clear from OECD figures that about 73% of Irish post-primary teachers are in permanent positions compared to Denmark where the percentage is in the mid 90s. It is estimated that about 27% of teachers are on a contract basis....

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is important because as has been pointed out, this pertains in the main to post-primary teachers. Much work will be undertaken in reforming the junior certificate cycle and that continuity of service among teachers is needed.

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The last thing one needs when undertaking such a radical reform of the junior certificate cycle is to have teachers in schools who will not be there from one end of the year to the next. This issue must be addressed.

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Drop-out Rates (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will list in tabular form, on a county by county basis, the number of students who have dropped out of third level courses in the 2012-13 academic year up until the end of February 2013 and the way these figures compare to the same time last year. [11745/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (7 Mar 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the finding of two studies (details supplied) which showed primary school children in the six counties came sixth in numeracy and fifth in literacy, the highest rating of any English speaking country in the world; his views on whether this success can be attributed to the 48 per cent rise in per capita education funding in the North...