Results 401-420 of 1,494 for speaker:Deirdre Clune

Water Services (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: What funding will the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government provide to upgrade the water services infrastructure in the Cork area? The severe weather experienced during the past two winters highlighted the poor state of the water infrastructure across the State. Cork city experienced several particularly difficult weeks with its water supplies in December 2009 and...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Question 172: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when funding will be provided for the housing aid for older people scheme administered through the local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2945/11]

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Question 57: To ask the Minister for Enterprise; Trade and Innovation if he has satisfied himself that the existing examinership process is an effective instrument for protecting viable small business that encounter credit difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2910/11]

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: My question referred to viable small businesses. The reality is that an examinership process is not available to small businesses because of the excessive costs and lengthy court times associated with it. We are not talking about complete reform of our bankruptcy system - even though it is stuck in the dark ages - rather some type of flexible arrangement that can be introduced without delay...

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: There is much that can be done to improve the situation for small businesses. In the case of the large number of companies that have gone out of business since the start of the year the issue that is often referred to as the straw that broke the camel's back is excessive rents. Is there any progress in devising measures in this area? We must think outside the box rather than simply...

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: That is because of the costs. According to that journal, a total of 16 companies went into examinership in 2010, compared to 37 in 2009. That represents a decrease of 57%.

Enterprise Support Services (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: What about the rent issue?

Job Creation (19 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I hope the Minister will have enough time.

Health Care Services: Motion (18 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: I am please to speak to the motion which follows the announcement by the VHI that it intends to impose a staggering increase in the premiums payable by its customers from 1 February next. The proposal has shocked people. It calls into question what is taking place in the VHI. Why have things being allowed to reach the point where there will be increases of the order of 45% on some...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (12 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Question 110: To ask the Minister for Finance in view of the collapse in tourist numbers visiting Ireland since the introduction of the airport travel tax, his views on whether this tax should be removed if the recently announcement policy of increasing the number of overseas tourists visiting here is to be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44174/10]

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Question 699: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the number of staff engaged to process dental and optical benefits in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1070/11]

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (12 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Question 737: To ask the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport the position regarding the sports capital programme; when it will be open for applications and the level of funding available for 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1127/11]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Jan 2011)

Deirdre Clune: Question 839: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for the delay in the single farm payment to farmers in the Cork area in 2010; the timeline for full payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48292/10]

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: Question 49: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the process by which a community can progress the development of a secondary school in their area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47700/10]

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: With regard to the changes the Minister proposes to make in teaching standards, is it the case that from next September students who start teacher training colleges will have an expanded programme? Will she also implement a professional development programme for teachers from next September?

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: Is it the Minister's intention or policy?

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: Is it the draft plan?

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: Question 4: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the finding that Ireland's drop in performance in maths is the second largest fall of any country in the most recent PISA study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47893/10]

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: I would like to focus on teaching standards and refer to the draft report produced by the Minister. It states: "However, we cannot assume that all Irish primary teachers are proficient in the teaching of literacy and numeracy or that they continue to upskill themselves." That is a shocking and damning statement about the system. How much has been invested in teachers? They have spent at...

Literacy Levels (16 Dec 2010)

Deirdre Clune: Our system has not measured outputs, which are important. We are trying to pitch Ireland as a smart economy to attract investment. Average in science and below par in maths are not good enough.