Results 1,881-1,900 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Bank Charges (2 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 74. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the recent increase in bank charges by AIB; and if he has had any contact with the bank regarding this increase. [31884/13]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: State Banking Sector (2 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 137. To ask the Minister for Finance if he intends to sell his shares in AIB and Bank of Ireland in the next 12 months; if he will outline his strategy in disposing of his shares in the pillar banks. [31870/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance Scheme (2 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 461. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of families and children who will receive the back to school clothing and footwear allowance automatically in 2013; the amount of money her Department has allocated for this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31999/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I ask the Acting Chairman to clarify the times for Priority Questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I believe for Priority Questions there is more time.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I understand that, but I-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: For Priority Questions I thought there was more.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to implement the recommendations of the Oireachtas Select Committee on Education who have proposed that pupils should not be obliged to wear crested uniforms and schools should end the practice of using work plans and if he will present a timetable for when these measures will be implemented. [32342/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: This issue has been raised on numerous occasions in the Chamber. We have been told consistently that the issue of school uniforms is a matter for individual boards of management.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the fact the Minister said we need leadership on this issue, but I believe we need leadership from the Minister as well. I imagine the Minister is well aware that under the 1998 Act he has the power to issue recommendations on this or any other matter. This was last done in 2008 in respect of school uniforms. The recommendations issued in 2008 were not exactly progressive. One...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister for his reply. Can we get a commitment that if the schools, boards of management and patron bodies do not take on board the recommendations, then the Minister will actively pursue issuing his own recommendations as the powers vested in his office allow? I offer one example of a school in Cork which was recently amalgamated. Prior to the amalgamation there was a...

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: 7. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of resource teachers that will lose their jobs or have their teaching hours reduced in the 2013/14 academic year; if he will confirm that principals and school boards of management have the flexibility to employ mainstream teachers without full-time timetables into roles that should be filled by specially trained resource teachers....

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I wish to focus on the position at post-primary level, if possible. When I was researching this matter, I discovered that a circular relating to primary schools and the allocation of learning support and resource teachers was issued by the Department. I also became aware of that the general allocation and low-incidence hours can be combined. In the context of post-primary schools which are...

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am referring to the latter. As a result of changes in the pupil-teacher ratio, the school was going to lose a mainstream teacher so a decision was taken at local level to retain that teacher who then assumed responsibility for some resource teaching activities and the dedicated resource teacher lost her position. Are decisions of this nature made at the discretion of individual schools or...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I take it from the Minister's answer that the €22 million potential cost will not have to come from the education budget and that he is in discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to see if it can be found elsewhere. I hope that is the case as we are looking at another €44 million having to come from the education budget this year. It is impossible to...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is hiring additional staff on a reduced budget.

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Even if by some miracle, the Cabinet decided to ring-fence the education budget this year and not force the Minister to look for savings of €44 million and possibly €66 million, we will still see cuts because we have had multi-annual year announcements. We will see another reduction in capitation grants of 1% in 2014 and another 1% in 2015 so even if a collective decision was...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is it possible to get a commitment?

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move amendment No. 3:In page 4, to delete lines 6 to 17 and substitute the following:"(2) In any proceedings brought by a mortgagee seeking an order for possession of land to which the mortgage relates in a case to which this section applies, and where no previous engagement with a personal insolvency practitioner has taken place the court, shall:(a) adjourn proceedings for a period of at...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2013: Report and Final Stages (3 Jul 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I apologise again for the absence of Deputy Mac Lochlainn who is chairing a committee meeting. He has indicated he wishes to press the amendment.