Results 7,141-7,160 of 7,404 for speaker:Mick Wallace

Exchequer Savings (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 14: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in view of the shortage of Exchequer funds at present the reason that he has not intervened to prevent unnecessary expenditure on the planning stages of projects which are unlikely to be completed during the life of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35203/11]

Exchequer Savings (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I understand that certain projects are no longer feasible and that it makes no sense for Government to go ahead with them. One of those projects is the New Ross bypass which it was estimated would cost €350 million. It has been pretty obvious for some months that projects like this would not go ahead during the lifetime of this Government. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, made that quite...

Exchequer Savings (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, made the sensible decision of not purchasing the land for the Oilgate project. However, money was spent in the past few weeks on the purchase of land in New Ross at a time when money is scarce. While there have been many good roads built in this country, we got carried away with ourselves and some of it is over the top.

Exchequer Savings (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I believe that a relief bridge in New Ross at a cost of €35 million is a more likely outcome in the future than is a €350 million bypass.

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 31: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on the fact that, from the outset he has been insisting that facilitating the creation of jobs is one of its top priorities yet the capital spending programme published last week does little to support this claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35202/11]

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I congratulate the Irish soccer team and management on qualifying for the European championships. I am sure it will be-----

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: It will be a great break for the people who are suffering from the austerity measures. Given that there will probably be a six week recess at some stage next summer, would the Tánaiste consider arranging two weeks of it to coincide with the first two weeks of the soccer?

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Not extend it; reorganise it.

Order of Business (17 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I asked for the time to be reorganised.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 53: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that a decrease in teacher numbers at second level would result in a reduction in the number of subjects available to students, prevent many students form reaching their full potential, and is particularly unfeasible in the current climate in view of the anticipated 10% increase in the student population; and if...

Mental Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: There seems to be a broad consensus that mental health provision deserves special attention and should not be neglected. The Minister's speech and that of the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, set out the Government's position quite clearly. The Minister of State observed: The State has an obligation to its citizens to mind them and ensure, in as far as it is possible, they are...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Question 16: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his view that any increase in the pupil teacher ratio at second level will seriously impact on the career and study options of our young persons and could mean that thousands of students will miss out on science education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34847/11]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I am sure the Minister is aware that if there are cuts to teacher numbers and the pupil-teacher ratio goes up, this means more kids in classrooms in primary schools, but at secondary level it sometimes means that schools need to cut subjects. One school in Dublin has had to drop its honours maths teacher and its art teacher. Whatever way one looks at it, it seems a retrograde step to make...

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: The Minister skipped the question on history, which is of interest.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Can I ask the Minister how interested he is in the subject of history? History has been an undervalued subject in Ireland, and given that history is the story of men and women and teaches us where we came from, who we are and where we are supposed to be going-----

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I am pleased to hear that. It is very good and I am impressed.

Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: There is a perception that history does not make money so there is less interest in investing in it. If the likes of George Bush and Tony Blair knew a little more about history, they might not have wasted ten years in Iraq and as many years in Afghanistan.

Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Statements (Resumed) (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle - is that what you are called?

Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Statements (Resumed) (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: I hope there are more people in the Hungarian Parliament than there are here. Does the Minister not think the metro north would have been a major positive investment for the State? It would have been a great move on the part of the Government for a number of reasons. The Minister said that €1.6 million would be spent on water between now and 2016.

Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-2016: Statements (Resumed) (16 Nov 2011)

Mick Wallace: Sorry, €1.6 billion. I hope the money will first be spent on fixing the pipes, given that 45% of treated water in Dublin city is lost through leakage. To fix those pipes would be labour-intensive and create a lot of employment. It would also be a good investment for the State. I hope the Government does not spend too much money on putting in water meters just to make the water saleable....