Results 2,041-2,060 of 4,717 for speaker:Martin Mansergh

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: All the commitments made in this are dependent on our country's economic prosperity which we will never put at risk.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Against the backdrop of current conditions, a 12% increase in the capitation grant in 2008, which translates into 9% for each individual pupil, and given the increasing numbers of children enrolled, is quite generous. There are increased costs and the Government does not want to remove all incentives to manage scarce resources like energy and water responsibility by blanket subsidisation of...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: At the same time capitation should cover all basic running costs at a reasonable rate.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Does Deputy Stagg have no respect for other speakers? No, he does not.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: As the Minister pointed out in her speech last night——

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Some imaginative arrangements have been devised for national schools, particularly in areas where there is a substantial immigrant school population. Most people will be pleased that the existing school system is to be adapted rather than abolished. I wish to pay particular tribute to the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr. Martin, for his imaginative and flexible response to the new pressures being...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Voluntary community or parish involvement in school support and management is a good development and preferable to a purely and exclusive State system of schooling which may be somewhat soulless. This does mean small contributions are likely to be required from parents, largely outside areas of social disadvantage. In many areas, parents who actively want to enhance facilities for their...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——and sometime make contributions in kind.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: The goodwill should not be exploited or taken advantage of by the State and should not be in lieu of basic supports.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister has provided additional funding for schools serving areas of social disadvantage. The tradition that education Ministers in the main are former teachers has been vindicated by Deputy Hanafin. I pay tribute to her concentrated effort to prioritise social disadvantage and inclusion. Even ten years ago such services were underdeveloped. Now, nearly every school has access to...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: While many areas of the country are having to wait, there is some understanding of the short-term priority the Minister has given to tackling acute demographic pressures, partly due to migration into the counties surrounding Dublin.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: One of the most important pledges made in the general election by my party was to increase the number of primary teachers by 4,000.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: The Minister informed the House last night that not only has the pledge been kept but it is ahead of target with half the number delivered in the first two years, which is very welcome. I pay tribute to the excellent work done in providing new schools or building extensions. The quality is high and it probably increases the demand for better facilities from other neighbouring schools. The...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: The comparable figure in 1997 was the equivalent of €44 million.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: As a result of the success of the Celtic tiger economy, expectations on the delivery of projects in quality and quantity have been transformed. A senior cleric in my church recently expressed the view that modern national schools are so good, he does not understand why parents would choose to go private. In truth, few do, although sometimes there can be issues other than educational ones in...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: An excellent new gaelscoil was opened by the Minister in Tipperary town three years ago. Listening to the contribution of the Fine Gael spokesperson on education, I cannot agree with two of his suggestions. It is not good or viable fiscal practice to have special VAT regimes for particular sectors such as schools. Nor do I agree with the establishment of outside commissions, often at...

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: ——and to make the task of teachers easier.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: Last Tuesday morning a man came up to me on the street in Tipperary and in the course of a short conversation he remarked, quite unprompted, that the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, is doing a good job. I could only agree.

Capitation Grants: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: No.

Cancer Services Reports: Motion (Resumed) (12 Mar 2008)

Martin Mansergh: I wish to share time with Deputy Finian McGrath.