Results 44,541-44,560 of 46,267 for speaker:Simon Harris

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: There is ongoing legal action here but it seems bizarre that councils take legal action against closed companies. The legal action is one of the longest-running High Court cases in history of the State, which is frustrating for everyone involved. There seem to be significantly different figures emerging. The figure of €50 million was provided by the county manager to councillors at...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I thank Ms Tallon and her team for attending. I start with a relatively minor issue about which there were media reports last week. I would like to clear it up. It is about the cost to local authorities of the new reform measures. The witnesses will probably have seen in last weekend's Sunday newspapers reports that some local authorities are splurging on the purchase of new furniture,...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I just wanted to clear that up. I want to examine development levies, illegal dumping and the issuing of a waste permit which was subsequently shredded in Wicklow County Council before having to be reissued. I will explain the last matter in a moment. I begin with the issue of development levies. I asked a series of parliamentary questions of the Minister for the Environment, Community...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge that. I acknowledge that not all of the €750 million that is owed or meant to be owed to local authorities by developers or people going about development will have materialised. What I have not been able to establish since March is whether we have an idea of how much of it did materialise? In other words, if I go to build a conservatory today and issue a commencement...

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: The Department considers that figure to be the amount owed on foot on development that has materialised.

Public Accounts Committee: 2011 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: In one of the statements the Department issued on 15 March 2013, it referred to bad debts and set out that when they are taken into account, the true level of outstanding development levies for 2010 was €214 million. What are the guidelines in place according to which a local authority decides whether an outstanding levy represents a bad debt? If the true figure of outstanding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide clarity on voluntary fees sought by schools from parents and students in school and registration fees and re-registration fees; if such fees in public schools are compulsory; his views on these fees and recommended levels for such fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31187/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if officials from his Department have met representatives of a board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow regarding their concerns about the proposed location for their new school building; when this meeting took place; the outcome of the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31350/13]

Mental Health (Anti-Discrimination) Bill 2013: First Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I move:That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make provision, in the context of evident and persistent unfair discrimination against persons who have been diagnosed with a mental illness or who have in the past been diagnosed with a mental illness, for the protection of certain classes of persons having been diagnosed with a mental illness and to prohibit the...

Mental Health (Anti-Discrimination) Bill 2013: First Stage (26 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Energy Conservation (26 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 190. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the proposed budget for the energy upgrade of local authority properties as recently announced as part of a local stimulus plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30997/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Authorities Management (26 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 191. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details in tabular form by local authority area of the number of meetings on an annual basis that have been held between Oireachtas Members and County/City Managers since the abolition of the dual mandate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31090/13]

Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: Timmy, you know you are responsible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (25 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he plans to respond to policy advice on the future of special needs education from the National Council Special Education; if an implementation group will be appointed to progress this report; if he expects parent and teachers to be involved in this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30161/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 249. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the number of special needs assistant posts in a special needs school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if there have been any additional allocations of special needs resources in view of the acute demand and circumstances; the action currently being considered to address the acute demand and altered...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Application Numbers (25 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 264. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline all new school buildings, school extensions and upgrades and investments planned for schools in an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; the projected timeline for completion of these projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30282/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (25 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 266. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider allowing for dual enrolment to take place for children with special educational needs, in such circumstances where a child is being gradually transitioned to mainstream school or attending as much mainstream school as possible but also requires to remain in a special needs school for a period of time or for certain aspects;...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: 267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the timeline for providing the new second level school which he announced for an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when patronage will be decided for this school; when it is expected to open its doors to students; when a decision will be made on the precise location; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Public Accounts Committee: 2009 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 37 - SKILL Programme (Resumed)
2010 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 41 - Partnership Arrangements in the Health Service
Special Report No. 80 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Administration of National Health and Local Authority Levy Fund (20 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: I am slightly alarmed by the word "disappeared". When did they disappear or when were they last seen? Did they exist?

Public Accounts Committee: 2009 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 37 - SKILL Programme (Resumed)
2010 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Chapter 41 - Partnership Arrangements in the Health Service
Special Report No. 80 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: Administration of National Health and Local Authority Levy Fund (20 Jun 2013)

Simon Harris: It is but one would imagine it is somewhat worrying. We will return to this point again.