Results 5,281-5,300 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Book Rental Scheme: Discussion (4 Jun 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will try to get straight to the questions. The presentation from the INTO, as always, was straight to the point. There is an opportunity for the Department today to try to outline the rationale for the decision to initially allocate money for a school book rental scheme for that percentage of schools that did not operate one. A explanation has never been given as to why it was targeting...

Order of Business (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I wish to inquire about two tranches of legislation. The first relates to a Private Members' Bill which is currently on Committee Stage, the Wind Turbine Regulation Bill 2014. On Monday, the report of the independent inspector in respect of the decision by Westmeath County Council to incorporate setback distances for wind turbines into the council draft development plan was launched....

Order of Business (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: We were informed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, in response to a question from Deputy McDonald, that it would be taken on 11 June, but it was not included on the list, published yesterday, of legislation to be completed before the summer recess.

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Give us the funding at local authority level and we will do the job.

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Tánaiste is blaming local authority members rather than the Government of which he is a member. He has learned nothing.

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: On my behalf and that of my party, we wish the Tánaiste and his family well in the future. Last week, the Government launched a plan whose aim was to end homelessness by 2016. It is a very laudable plan that every Member of this House wants to see succeed. We will work with the Government in trying to achieve that goal. In recent months many councils in the State have faced an...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: That arrangement is not trickling down to local community welfare officers, as I am sure any Member of the House can confirm to the Tánaiste. Unfortunately increasing numbers of people in the depths of despair are presenting to my constituency office because they are being forced out of their private rented accommodation. I agree that raising rent supplement caps does not represent a...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: That is the solution. Raising the rent supplement limits is a temporary solution, but it is crucial for the type of people who present at my constituency office and have a demand from a landlord to vacate a property because he is increasing the rent which he knows he could get from another tenant. The reality is that we have a housing crisis and €100 million or €50 million...

Leaders' Questions (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Some €20 million.

Other Questions: State Examinations Reviews (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Given that the new junior cycle is due to commence in September, I hope the review concludes before the end of the year. The Minister of State is being disingenuous when he says he does not know the teachers' unions' concerns because they have not provided a written submission. The Minister of State and Department are very well aware of their concerns. It is unfair to say he cannot...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that his Department will give permission for a school (details supplied) to enter in to a five-year lease agreement with NCE campus in Farranferris, County Cork; if a funding application by the school to fit out additional classrooms needed as a result in a large increase in student numbers in September 2014 and provide a...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: This question is about a gaelscoil on the north side of Cork city and an issue it has with extending its lease because of the Department's failure to give it an assurance that it will continue to fund it as a public school.

Other Questions: School Accommodation (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: This is a matter of urgency. Some parents are wondering whether the NCE and Department will sign this lease. The school wants only a letter of comfort from the Department stating it will continue to receive funding for the next five years. The landlord in question refuses to sign any lease until he receives the letter, which has not been forthcoming.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 5. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views that the recently published Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019 will neglect non-tech or non-business related further education. [23452/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the Minister of State's comments because it is important that the strategy does not neglect non-tech and non-business related further education and training. Having read the report, that balance seems to be more weighted towards those who are probably at an advanced personal development level and who are ready to upskill and get into high-tech jobs. I note that the strategy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I have two brief questions. In relation to the ETBs, because they are such a new entity, some ETBs may be more successful at creating those forums. I wonder what facility is there in place for the individual CEOs to take best practice from each ETB area and how that will be managed. As to my other question, one of the points in the report, on page 19, on how we measure the success of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: To pick up on the last point, the best people to ascertain whether a pupil needs an SNA are those who carry out the assessment. In carrying out that assessment, they indicate what resources and help a student may need. At present, SNAs are being allocated to schools and unfortunately, the number of SNAs that some schools have does not match the needs of their students and thereafter, a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the changes he has made to the criteria for allocating special needs assistants have made it more difficult for children to access SNA help when they need it and if he will review these changes. [23451/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The reality for many parents is that this circular is very frightening because it has moved the goal posts. The Minister of State may not care to admit it, but it is going to make it more difficult for students who need SNA support to receive it. That is a fact. We have already seen cases in our constituency offices of children who previously had SNA support and who are now in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 May 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all children with dyslexia and other learning difficulties are provided with the assistance needed for the leaving certificate this year. [23275/14]