Results 6,481-6,500 of 8,015 for speaker:Jonathan O'Brien

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Job Initiatives (29 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the statement by her appointee as chair of the steering group of the jobbridge programme (details supplied), when she will reconsider the decision not to provide a training budget for each participant on top of the basic allowance. [4067/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm if a new site has been acquired for a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; when work on the new school building is due to commence; and the projected timeframe for when work on the new school building will be completed. [4010/13]

Written Answers — Department of Social Protection: Back to Education Allowance Payments (29 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the decision in Budget 2013 to cut the back to education allowance was equality proofed; his views on whether decreasing this allowance will prevent marginalised and disadvantaged learners from upskilling through their participation in further education courses. [2673/13]

Education (Welfare) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (23 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: First, I thank all of the Deputies who contributed to the Second Stage debate on this Bill, both those who spoke for and those who spoke against it. I also thank Dr. Stephen Minton from Trinity College Dublin, who is one of Ireland's leading experts on bullying and who freely gave his expertise at both the research and drafting stages of the Bill, and Mr. Simon Gillespie and Mr. Gavin...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Departmental Websites (23 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update in the Governments new eTenders website; the cost involved in preparing and managing the new site; the level of consultation that took place with interested stakeholders in advance of the new site being rolled out; the level of briefing that the Government has carried out to inform interested parties on the way...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Remuneration (23 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the action he will take to ensure that the principle of equal pay for equal work in public sector pay is not undermined. [3080/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (23 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of the number of newly qualified teachers who are still awaiting payment of their increased level four payscale; the date when all outstanding payments will be made and if he will provide assurances that unpaid wages will be back paid in full from September 2012. [3352/13]

Education (Welfare) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2012: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." The Bill before the House, which will be debated this evening and tomorrow, sets out to amend the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 to enshrine in legislation obligatory anti-bullying policies that must be implemented on a mandatory basis by school boards of management so there are enhanced procedures in place to deal with bullying whenever it...

Other Questions: Higher Education Institutions (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The Minister has covered the issue comprehensively and I know Deputy Wallace wishes to have his question addressed.

Other Questions: Education Funding (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Always equalise upwards.

Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: This would certainly be welcome. A concern about the proposed budget changes is that some courses may have to be discontinued. During the Private Members' debate last week it was stated that it is down to the CEOs and principals of further education colleges to prioritise the courses which need to be protected. In the absence of this data it will be difficult for them to do so, and this...

Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of students, on a county basis, who progressed to higher education courses as a result of qualifications gained from participating in post leaving certificate courses in 2011/12. [2669/13]

Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I agree with the Minister that SOLAS may have a role in generating these data. I am concerned about the proposed changes in the recent budget in regard to the pupil-teacher ratio, PTR, for further education colleges, which many people use as a stepping stone to higher education, in particular people who may not have received academic qualifications on completion of their post-primary...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I welcome what the Minister stated in terms of the progress report. The Minister may be aware, from his colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, that there is a reconfiguration of services being undertaken by the HSE which is impacting on the provision of services, particularly to special schools. I wonder what type of communication is taking place between the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Minor Works Scheme Suspension (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the suspension of the minor works grant represents a false saving in view of comments (details supplied) that schools that are unable to afford to meet the cost of minor maintenance costs will result in school buildings falling into a much greater state of disrepair. [3085/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Minor Works Scheme Suspension (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Does the Minister agree minor works grants were used by schools, particularly older schools, to continually upgrade classrooms and infrastructure and, as a result, they were able to maintain the school estate? This decision could mean that in the long term, because schools will be unable to do continual maintenance and upgrading, further pressure will be put on the capital budget for school...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: Two brothers applied on the same day for maintenance grants and payment of registration fees. One application was awarded, but the other was denied. When the brother whose application had been denied queried the decision on the grounds of living in the same house, having the same income and being subject to the same means test, he was told that he did not satisfy the means test. When it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: I will provide the details of the case involving the two brothers in particular.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: The brother who has received payment fears that he will be chased for its return. It is distressing for him, given the fact that he obviously cannot afford to attend college. I presume that there will be a review of SUSI's operation at some stage. Will the Minister provide the timeframe of such a review? The priority is to get through as many applications and payments as possible, but...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (22 Jan 2013)

Jonathan O'Brien: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of third level students on a county basis who have had their maintenance grant application accepted by Student Universal Support Ireland but have still to receive payment; the number of students who have appealed the decision of SUSI and are awaiting the outcome of that decision and the numbers of...