Results 5,321-5,340 of 40,550 for speaker:Joan Burton

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: I am sure Fianna Fáil will tell us in due course.

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: I refer to modern Ireland and the area I represent, and an amount of the area the Fianna Fáil spokesperson on education, Deputy Thomas Byrne, represents, is similarly a very diverse area. The most recent census showed Fingal has close to the highest level of international community. It has the highest growth in diverse communities and in many schools there are children from 30 to 50...

Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: I welcome the Bill. It is a copy, save in two respects, of the Bill that was worked on by two of my colleagues, the former Ministers Deputy Jan O'Sullivan and former Deputy Ruairí Quinn. During the previous Government, very few issues which were as divisive as the issues reflected or, in some cases, not reflected in the Bill. I recall, and the Minister will recall, how divisive some of...

Public Accounts Committee: Special Report No. 94 of the Comptroller and Auditor General: National Asset Management Agency Sale of Project Eagle (Resumed) (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: Unrepentant.

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Education and Training Boards (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the options available to persons drawing credits but not receiving a social protection payment in terms of training; the schemes open to such persons; and his plans to extend options for job training for this category. [35571/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: National Drugs Strategy Budget (17 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 219. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to continue the pilot funding, under the dormant accounts programme, measure 4, in 2017, to assist the Tallaght drugs and alcohol task force and other task forces to develop an alcohol strategy and the delivery of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35634/16]

Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister tell us who is carrying out this review? Are there any civil servants left in either of the Departments who are not working full-time on reviews? It is the comment we have heard most from the Minister since he became a Minister in that everything seems to be subject to review. In this respect, as the Minister probably knows, quite a few schools in Dublin and around the...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the proposals he is reviewing, in conjunction with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, to realise the programme for Government commitment to have schools available for child care services outside school hours; if community groups and private providers will be allowed tender for access to those facilities; and if he will make a...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister provide an update on the proposals relating to granting access to schools after-school hours to child care providers, including community groups, in order that they might offer after-school care? Will they be allowed to apply for access to after-school facilities in schools? The Minister is aware that many schools are closed by the middle to late afternoon and for parents...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: Will the Minister tell us the number of students and schools affected by the non-collaboration of the ASTI and its members with the junior certificate cycle reforms? We are coming close to Christmas and the exams will happen not too long in the life of the students and parents after that. With due respect, it is not good enough for the Minister to say this is only for the State Examinations...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 25. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a progress report on junior certificate syllabus, subject and assessment reforms and his key priorities in this regard for 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35239/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: Where stands junior certificate reform? Does the resolution, up to a point ,of the dispute with the ASTI mean that the issues relating to junior certificate reform have been resolved? Will the Minister give students an assurance that they will not end up penalised or losing marks because their schools or some of the teachers in the schools may not be participating fully in junior...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: I do not know whether the Minister is aware that many students and their parents feel deeply unsure about what is happening with junior certificate reform. While the junior certificate is obviously not as big an exam as the leaving certificate, it is a major issue in the life and perspective of a student if he or she is working away and yet may be penalised because one particular union is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: -----that the number of jobs which will change over the next ten to 20 years and which will affect these students right throughout their working life is very significant.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: However, I am very unclear, on foot of the Minister's reply, as to what actual progress has been achieved. Does he acknowledge that students still will not know-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: -----whether some will be at a ten-point disadvantage if their schools are overseen by ASTI members?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 37. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce class sizes and build on the measures to reduce class sizes in the previous budget. [34873/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way he plans to progress the three areas in the education sector that he has identified as his core priority areas of focus in the sector, including assisting children with special needs, supporting schools and building a stronger bridge between education and the workplace; the reason he has prioritised these three areas; and if he will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a report on the consultation process he has established on a new three-year strategy for education of skills, Strategy for Education and Skills 2016-2018; when he expects the consultation process to finish and the final report to be published; the key priority areas of the consultation process; and if he will make a statement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (16 Nov 2016)

Joan Burton: 74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he plans in order to deal with concerns regarding third level student support and funding challenges for third level institutions. [34871/16]