Results 58,001-58,020 of 74,100 for speaker:Bernard Durkan

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 264: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has specified the extent and nature of services to be cut at primary and second level schools arising from budget 2009 cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44561/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 265: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will introduce measures to ameliorate the impact on schools most seriously affected by budget 2009 cuts in the educational sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44562/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 266: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to address the worsening pupil-teacher ratios expected to arise following his proposals to reduce funding for primary and second level schools here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44563/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 267: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to bring pupil-teacher ratios into line with commitments given by the Government parties prior to 2007 general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44564/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 268: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the steps he will take to bring pupil-teacher ratios in County Kildare, with particular reference to north Kildare, into line with the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44565/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 269: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that his announced and proposed budgetary cuts in the educational sector are expected to impact more seriously on schools in County Kildare than elsewhere throughout the country; if he will address this issue in the immediate future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44566/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 270: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to ease the effect of the education budget 2009 cuts on schools in County Kildare which are likely to be worst affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44567/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 271: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he has proposals to address and improve the pupil-teacher ratio in primary schools in north Kildare which have a ratio in excess of the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44568/08]

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 272: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when he expects to fulfil the commitments made to parents and teachers in north Kildare prior to the last general election with particular reference to pupil teacher ratios in the classroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44569/08]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Question 262: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his proposals to improve and extend facilities for children with autism in 2009 at all mainstream schools here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44558/08]

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Absolutely and I will continue to try to keep it that way as well. Although it is being dealt with separately, the question of qualification under the habitual residency clause has been abysmally abused. The Minister knows about this and it was referred to yesterday. It is appalling. Irish citizens who were born in this country and emigrated — like the 42 million of Irish extraction in...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: I have similar views. I fully appreciate the reason for the amendment in that there are issues that need to be addressed. I would not worry about the likely impact of the amendment. It could have a beneficial impact in that there could be a global negotiation of the rents being charged, with the Department having direct control. Now may be the best time to achieve this. Up to now, when...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: There are the two láimhe in this case.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Mortgages of 150% in some cases.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stages (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: I fully agree with this important amendment and concur with previous speakers. I do not know whether the Department of Social and Family Affairs fully appreciates the magnitude of the problem that is now unfolding before us. Anything we have seen heretofore will fade into the dim and distant past in comparison to this. A series of problems are turning up. For instance, we now have a...

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Hear, hear.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Deputy Lynch is correct.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: There has been a noticeable increase in the number of pipe-bombs thrown into gardens and used in the pursuit of criminal activity in the past 12 months or so. There is a Bill to replace the Explosives Act 1875 proposed. It should be nearly time to introduce that Bill at this stage in view of the difficulties to which I referred.

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: Next year. Would the recent spate of pipe-bomb explosions not merit a more urgent response?

Order of Business (4 Dec 2008)

Bernard Durkan: I have two other items——