Results 9,441-9,460 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 51: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the stage of a proposed building project in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; when this project will proceed to the next stage; the likely timescale for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30995/12]

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his response. The reports published by the NCCA in the past couple of weeks are important and support the development of a new language curriculum at primary level. The Department must move on those reports as soon as is practical so as to ensure we develop an integrated language curriculum where language learning supports the development of literacy skills across...

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. The person who was in contact with me subsequent to my tabling of the parliamentary question indicated that the problem was somewhat different, that textbooks were being introduced each year and that this added to the difficulty. Project Maths was rolled out originally in 2008 and it became a leaving certificate subject in 2010 in 24 schools, which was...

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: It is important to recognise the engagement of mathematics teachers with this project as well. Often it is easy for people to knock the public service and those delivering services. This project emphasises the importance of ongoing professional development and the fact that these courses are developed. It is important to recognise the worthwhile engagement by teachers of mathematics. The...

Education and Training Boards (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I welcome that the heads of the Bill have been approved by the Government. Does the Minister of State expects to have the legislation enacted before the end of the calendar year?

Education and Training Boards (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Is it envisaged that the new architecture will be put in place in parallel with the legislation going through the Houses of the Oireachtas?

Education and Training Boards (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for the clarification. I appreciate this is a major project and it has my full support. However, the momentum needs to be maintained. If any doubt or uncertainty sets in the new entity will get off to a bad start and will take time to recover. I am concerned for the people who avail of the services. All of us have met people in our clinics who have asked...

Third Level Grants (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Deputy Crowe referred earlier to deficiencies in language teaching. I spoke privately with the Minister while we were campaigning in the recent referendum about my shock at the number of people from outside this jurisdiction who were working in a certain enterprise because of a lack of people with specific skills here. At a recent party meeting a young person who is pursuing postdoctoral...

Third Level Grants (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Considerable progress can be made in achieving better collaboration between the universities, the institutes of technology and relevant industries. We made progress in this area when I was in the Department. It is relevant to the point made about Deputy Donnelly's question. There can be better collaboration and better utilisation of resources and less duplication. This will be of benefit...

School Uniforms (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: It might be worthwhile for the Department to raise this issue with the Joint Managerial Body, Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools, National Parents Councils and so on. The Minister knows better than anybody that these bodies are very effective lobbyists on other issues and could give a similar impetus in this case.

Vocational Education Committees (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: There has been some public commentary to the effect that this issue has gone to conciliation at one of the arms of the State's industrial relations machinery. Given that we are talking about only 15 people, there should be no delay in finalising these matters. The Minister has huge experience in government, including in the area of labour affairs. He should use his skills to finalise these...

Vocational Education Committees (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: The notion of certainty is at the core of this. The sooner these appointments are finalised the better from everybody's point of view, both those delivering the service and those availing of it, whether at second level, further education or in the traditional training area.

School Accommodation (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is familiar with a case in my own constituency - St. Mary's National School in Virginia, County Cavan - where I am anxious to have 16 prefabs displaced. We have done further analysis on the projected enrolment trends and would like to advance that project.

School Textbooks (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to meet with school book publishers to discuss the fact that they are failing to abide by the code of practice on publishing unnecessary new editions of textbooks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31183/12]

School Textbooks (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I share the Minister's concerns about the substantial costs for households. It is an issue that arises at this time of the year. I welcome the fact that last October the Minister received a commitment from the book publishers that they would sign up to a code of practice in regard to revised editions. There have been complaints, some of which have been aired in the national media, that a...

School Textbooks (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: The Minister has correctly spoken about the value of the book rental schemes. The more of those that are in use and the more leadership given by schools on this issue, the better. There is another practical problem. It is difficult for parents or pupils to sell on books. In many cases, compact discs, CDs, are provided along with the language books and in many instances workbooks are part...

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total cut to resource hours last year and for this year; the impact that this will have on children with special and educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31184/12]

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. Since the late 1990s huge advances have been made in putting in place a strong system of support for pupils with special educational needs. We must continue to support young people with special needs in our schools and protect the most vulnerable. As the Minister stated, those with more complex needs have better resources provided for them, as is...

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I acknowledge the wisdom and prudence in retaining 15% for allocation as the year progresses. I remember a question raised here previously with regard to special needs allocations and a substantial number of positions had still not been allocated as we approached the end of the school year. Does the Minister have a pattern for how the 15% is allocated over the year? Is it possible to...

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for that clarification. The start of the school year is always an anxious time for parents with regard to the provision being made for children with special needs. We are aware of those concerns from what happened prior to the start of the school year last August. I suggest that if sufficient prudence was exercised so as to allow for a larger allocation of posts to be...