Results 5,541-5,560 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of the 128 special classes in primary schools which will be suppressed by his Department from 1 September 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8197/09]
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: While the Minister's reply is interesting, it did not answer my question. Are the 128 special classes to be abolished from 1 September next? A "Yes" or "No" answer will do. The Minister first said he was going to suppress all of the classes. Within a week of that he said he would consider amalgamating some of them and has today refused to answer my question in regard to whether these...
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: I know all that. What is the answer to my question?
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Political?
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: The Minister is telling the House it will be a matter for schools to make a case for the retention of classes following which a "political" decision will be made. The word "political" was on the tip of the Minister's tongue. That speaks volumes about where we are.
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Perhaps the Minister will respond to the following question from a mother, Cathy Shevlin, from Castleblaney, County Monaghan, whose son is ten years old and has the reading ability of a five year old.
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: That child is a pupil of one of these classes. This woman has asked me to ask the Minister what advice he would give to her and her son when next September he is put into a class with a greater number of children? What advice would the Minister offer this woman? The Minister announced 32 cutbacks last October-November and a few more since January. Will he state categorically on the floor...
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: That is not the issue.
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: I do, but there are some children for whom that will not work.
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: It will damage children.
- Special Educational Needs. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: It is saving money.
- Schools Building Projects. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in respect of his most recent announcement on 12 February 2009, for major school buildings, additional schools were added to the final list which had been agreed on 11 February 2009 within his Department; the schools in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/09]
- Schools Building Projects. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: I know exactly what the Minister said on 12 February. That is not the issue. The issue is that a document was posted on the Department's website some days in advance of that date, announcing that 41 major school building projects would proceed to tender and construction. Underneath that was the sentence "Insert link here once list is cleared!!!" Two schools were added to the list. What...
- Schools Building Projects. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: I have a print-out.
- Schools Building Projects. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: It was taken off the website within three minutes.
- Schools Building Projects. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Does the Minister understand people's cynicism about this decision-making process when they hear that in November 2006 his predecessor, Deputy Hanafin, gave the green light to six of the 43 schools to which he gave the green light on 12 February? The Minister is worse than Paul Daniels, saying "now you see it, now you do not". This is an extraordinary situation, six of the 43 projects were...
- Adult Education. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Absolutely.
- Disadvantaged Status. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: He will learn pretty quickly.
- Schools Building Projects. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: With Deputy McGinley I had the opportunity to visit the school recently on my travels to County Donegal. Would the Minister consider visiting the school? I attest to the quality of the education there in a very peripheral part of the country. Would he at least meet a delegation from the school over the coming months to see what progress can be made over the next while? It is a very worthy...
- Pupil-Teacher Ratio. (26 Feb 2009)
Brian Hayes: Just after the budget the Minister told the House the net effect would be the loss of 200 teachers. He is now telling the House that the net effect on mainstream teachers will be 254. Is that not a fact? Is that only a minimal figure because it does not consider the reduction in English language support, special needs and home-school community liaison teachers? There will be 1,000...