Results 5,461-5,480 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Leadership in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome the groups before the committee today. Much of the information came previously and we have read through it. It was interesting to hear the contributions from Mr. Cottrell and Mr. Byrne. When there are such persons come before a committee and tell us that we are reaching a crisis point, then we, in particular, the Department, have to sit up and take notice. Listening to the...

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 10. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications made by schools for psychological assessments of students in the academic year 2012-2013; the number of assessments that were carried out ; the reasons for not carrying out the remainder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16440/14]

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Do I take it that there is no limit on the number of applications a school can make for assessments by the NEPS? I was under the impression that in any academic year schools could only avail of three in-school assessments, whereby someone from the NEPS assessed students on site over a number of days. Will the Minister confirm whether that is the case?

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I am happy with that reply.

Other Questions: School Curriculum (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome that. I particularly want to focus on the LGBT sector. If we allow schools to teach sex education based on a particular ethos or value, students from an LGBT background or community will effectively be silenced or whitewashed. It is just not right in this day and age, so it will have to be addressed. The Minister has undertaken a lot of work on homophobic bullying and I...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 6. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering reviewing the RSE programme schools are obliged to deliver in order to ensure that what is delivered is based on evidence and best practice. [16441/14]

Other Questions: School Curriculum (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: RSE is part of the curriculum and schools are obligated to implement it, but the curriculum sets out that the programme must be delivered within the ethos and value system of each school. While this is all well and good and it is progressive that post-primary schools are implementing RSE programmes at junior and senior cycle, that it is being implemented on an ethos basis means that some...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is the Minister saying that despite all of the engagement with the unions and their participation in the working groups, they have not yet given him a firm indication of what resources are needed to roll out the junior cycle reform? There has been a great deal of discussion of self-assessment, which is where the nub of the problem seems to be. Having spoken to teachers, it does not appear...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: Is the implementation group still meeting and are the unions still participating in it?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received by Caranua to date; the number of advisors appointed; the number of applications granted and the number refused. [16789/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister's reply referred to just over 2,000 applicants. In a previous statement to the House, he said that approximately 15,000 people might be eligible to apply. What steps is Caranua taking to contact the additional 13,000 persons? The number of applications approved at the end of February was four, and it is now up to 26. It seems like a very low number given the number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: A person attended my constituency office last week who had made an application. Unfortunately, he was turned down. There is a limit of €5,000 per year for back-to-education grants. The course he had applied for was a cookery course which exceeded that limit. On that basis, he was turned down. Is there any flexibility built into the system? I acknowledge that Caranua is an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of junior certificate reforms following recent teacher ballots on withdrawing co-operation and non-participation in training. [16790/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the ability of primary schools to use internet-based teaching devices in delivering the curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16442/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the problems faced by some parents in getting their children into local schools, including that of the parent of a child (details supplied) who has visited all schools in the area and no place is available; his plans to address this matter. [16444/14]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Irish citizens who were refused grants from Student Universal Support Ireland on the basis of not satisfying the habitual residence condition for the year 2012-13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16443/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 135. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the installation of brand new CCTV equipment along the new road at a location (details supplied) in County Cork; the cost of installation of this CCTV monitoring equipment; the projected cost of operating the CCTV system; the funding stream used for the CCTV; the reason this area was prioritised over other,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 136. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality what best practice guidelines for the installation and operation of CCTV are used by the Garda and his Department. [16972/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed Circuit Television Systems (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 137. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is concerned at the use of CCTV and racial profiling by the Garda in view of the recent controversy regarding entering Traveller children in the Garda PULSE system. [16973/14]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (9 Apr 2014)

Jonathan O'Brien: 138. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to introduce community courts in Cork. [17011/14]