Results 25,701-25,720 of 26,148 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am delighted to be here to support the motion moved by Deputy Brian Hayes, our spokesman on education. Listening to the Government speakers tonight, one would swear there was no problem. A common theme emerging is that the Government cannot deliver in a year. It gave a commitment in the programme for Government that it would reduce the pupil-teacher ratio from 27 to 26 by 30 September....

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I have been a member of parents' associations for the past ten years. Ten years ago, we petitioned to reduce class sizes. Here I am today pushing the same case. We will not let this go. The Government will have to honour its commitment and, particularly in respect of JFK Memorial School in Limerick, ensure that the 11th teacher is retained. It is vital. There is a very simple solution....

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Its terms of reference should be extended.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The terms of reference should be extended to deal with hardship cases. This is the key issue. If we had a little bit of imagination and practicality, we would have a situation where these 28 schools that are about to lose a teacher would not lose one. It is ludicrous. The most that is involved here is probably €1.5 million. I did a rough calculation before I came out. To put this in...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Out of 27 OECD countries, we have the fourth worst pupil-teacher ratio. This has been going on for the past six years. The Government came in with a proposal to reduce it below 20 in 2002 for children under the age of nine. It introduced something that was not great but at least gave an incremental reduction of one per year between 2007 and 2012. What has the Government done here? It has...

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: In keeping with Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, I do not know why we are having this debate. The Government already approved the Constituency Commission's recommendations on 30 January. People often claim the Dáil is only a talk-shop. The Government has already made a decision and this debate should have been held long before the commission was established. I was elected by the people of Limerick...

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Why? Is it to appease Government backbenchers? It serves no purpose whatsoever.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am speaking on it because I have to put the views of the people of Limerick East on the record.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Yes I do.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thought the purpose of the Chamber was to encourage discourse.

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister referred to new legislation to ensure a commission will be established for preliminary census figures. I expect this will happen some time during 2010. Thereafter, the final census figures will be the deciding figures. I ask the Minister to consider carefully breaches of boundaries. Not only did the commission breach the boundary but it annexed half of Limerick into Kerry....

Constituency Commission Report: Statements (Resumed) (28 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Limerick East has been losing rural areas since 1948. Prior to that date, the full county of Limerick was one constituency. Since then, Limerick East has progressively lost county area and now a substantial portion is being taken. An area of Roxboro which is literally on the boundary with Limerick city has been brought into Limerick West, probably to make up the numbers. Limerick is...

Planning Issues. (27 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 108: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will amend the planning Acts to clarify the taking in charge of estates sections to stop confusion over what should be taken in charge by a council instead of a management company, or to increase the responsibilities of councils to take in charge further sections of developments instead of requiring a...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (20 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Question 243: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will clarify that the multi-annual funding for the disability sector promised in the programme for Government is being fulfilled in 2008. [19770/08]

OECD Report on Public Service Reform: Statements (20 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: How many other offices does the Minister of State plan to open this year?

OECD Report on Public Service Reform: Statements (20 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: How many offices will the Minister of State open outside Tipperary? That is the question.

OECD Report on Public Service Reform: Statements (20 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: I wish to share time with Deputy Seymour Crawford. I seek eight minutes for myself and two for Deputy Crawford.

OECD Report on Public Service Reform: Statements (20 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: The Minister for Finance's speech is more of the same. The Government commissions expensive reports, such as this OECD public management review and while it is a good report, it merely states the obvious. Although the Minister has left the House, I note the presence of the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Martin Mansergh. I wish to make some references to the contents...

OECD Report on Public Service Reform: Statements (20 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: Their P45s.

Cancer Screening Programme. (14 May 2008)

Kieran O'Donnell: That does not answer my question. The reply does not indicate when BreastCheck will be rolled out. It is a disgrace that the Minister for Health and Children is not in the House tonight.