Results 4,821-4,840 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Dec 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected savings from introducing school-based assessment for the junior cycle. [46395/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Dec 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the moneys spent on junior certificate marking during each of the past ten years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46396/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (3 Dec 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 102. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the data protection measures in place in schools when they are holding information that contains students' personal public service numbers. [46401/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (3 Dec 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to her statements that during the survey of social contexts of schools the data required were not in relation to the circumstances of individual pupils, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some schools including a school (details supplied) in County Leitrim have collected individualised information which they have...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is ridiculous, disgraceful.

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: And she made an accusation which should be withdrawn from the record.

Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I thank the Minister of State for his answer. The review of the apprenticeship system provides us with huge opportunities. When we discussed this matter at joint committee level, we received very positive feedback from all quarters about the expansion beyond the traditional apprenticeship schemes and targeting of more women, which is also important. I suggest that the focus on secondary...

Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I concur with what the Minister of State has said. The engagement of enterprise when people are being trained is a critical cog in the success, or potential success, of this scheme. If enterprise comes on board, it will facilitate long-term planning and vision in terms of the courses we are designing. That is critical. We cannot have the system that existed in the past, when people were...

Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: We are seeing an over-abundance of people who are qualified in a particular trade but do not have the necessary secondary skills to transfer to another trade and continue on a progression path in that trade. The engagement of enterprise is critical.

Other Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding she has allocated to the reform of the apprenticeship system and for introducing new apprenticeship schemes and expanding current schemes. [45119/14]

Other Questions: School Curriculum (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I also welcome the review of the curriculum. While the curriculum has not changed since 1999, some of the teaching methods have changed and this has been very positive. One of the best aspects of this is that we can now identify students with learning difficulties at an earlier age due to changes in the curriculum and how it is taught. Any review should take account of this but it also...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Deputy can press replay.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: There should be a debate.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out her plans to resolve the dispute with the teacher trade unions regarding her proposed reforms of the junior cycle. [45416/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: It is a similar question. To move the process on a little, I am keen to know what steps will be put in place to try to resolve it, as opposed to getting an update.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: There are several issues. I imagine all sides would agree that most of the issues could be resolved, but the main outstanding issue is internal assessment and that is the real block in progress in the discussions. Will the Minister outline the rationale for the internal ongoing assessment? What is the educational principle underpinning this move by the Department? Will the Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: As the Minister stated, the assessment for learning is all about providing feedback to students and guidance. I reckon much of that happens in the current context. As parents we get feedback on our children through parent-teacher meetings and Christmas and Easter examinations. Students get feedback in one-on-one meetings with teachers, through career guidance and so on. What is happening...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 16. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a survey carried out by the Irish Primary Principals Network which found that most parents are worse off financially now compared with last year and that half of schools had requested voluntary contributions from parents of more than €100; and her plans to actively address the issue of both primary and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who apply for Student Universal Support Ireland grants on the basis of illness benefit, having lost their jobs as a result of being out sick, are not allocated higher rates of the grant; and if she will rectify this anomaly. [45120/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (27 Nov 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has reviewed the proposal put forward by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to have the Student Universal Support Ireland application process reconfigured alongside the Central Applications Office process so that students will know whether they have financial support before beginning third level courses. [45123/14]