Results 8,321-8,340 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht deis a thabhairt dom labhairt ar son an rún seo, a bhaineann le hábhar ríthábhachtach. Tá mé an-bhuíoch go bhfuil an Aire é féin sa Seanad chun na ceiste seo a phlé. I welcome this opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the absence from the schools building programme 2012-16 of Eureka secondary school in Kells and O'Carolan college...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is bitterly disappointing that not one iota of hope is being given to these schools. I welcomed the announcement on Monday in so far as it went, and I also welcomed the prefabs announcement last week. When I saw the list of schools, they need and deserve them, but it is a continuation of previous policy, which needs to be acknowledged.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is, because many schools in County Meath-----

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I just want to respond to the Minister. Many schools in County Meath got prefabs replaced in recent years, and I could name them. However, the Minister's response is bitterly disappointing. I accept the demographic issues but I hope there was no politics involved in the decision-making because rural north Meath was completely left out even though there are demographic issues there. I may...

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Fianna Fáil were accused of being political over many years.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I have made my point.

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That last assertion does not apply to Eureka secondary school in Kells or O'Carolan college in Nobber. As for the former, I acknowledge the previous Government announced it and put the project forward towards architectural planning-----

Seanad: Schools Building Projects (14 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: Yes. However, last January, the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, responded to an Adjournment matter in this Chamber on behalf of the Minister and reconfirmed the position. She gave great hope and encouragement and at the time I was delighted and welcomed that.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We are not disputing that. They want more, as we had planned.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: They are complaining because it is a major cutback.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: He failed to pay €1.6 million.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: We are not in a courtroom. We cannot talk about court judgments in the House.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: How many of them are already built?

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I wish to echo the concerns that have been raised about the schools building programme. Those concerns began on the "Morning Ireland" programme yesterday when the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, was incoherent. He did not know what figures he was giving.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is the duty of Ministers to go on the radio having facts and figures at their disposal. It is also the duty of Senators to do that. In the meantime, after Senator Whelan made his claim about seven new schools in Laois, I have examined the figures. It turns out that there are eight in County Laois on this list.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: That is not what the Senator said earlier.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It is all in my mind.

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: It turns out there are three on site already in County Laois, which means they are practically complete. We had that in Meath as well. In north Meath, two major projects dropped off the list and there was one on the list that is already built. There was one site to go in 2012, which was already announced by the Minister in December 2011. Therefore, four have already been built or...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I know all about Meath, too, because I have looked at it and there is not one there. I have not looked at the problems concerning the four for 2013-2014, but there is not one school in County Meath that has not been announced already by this Government or the previous one. While any investment by the Minister is to be welcomed, it falls far short of the radical investment he planned. It...

Seanad: Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Thomas Byrne: I seek a debate on this. This is a victory for spin over substance. The capital plan has been ruthlessly dragged apart to put in place the most unfair budget in the past five years, as has been confirmed by the ESRI. Mr. Colm Rapple in the Irish Mail on Sunday stated it was most unfair because the Government targeted the poorest of the poor, cut the capital budget and is now spinning it to...