Results 9,581-9,600 of 18,460 for speaker:Brendan Smith

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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 209: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he, his Department or the National Council for Special Education has carried out any analysis into the impact of the 15% cut to resource hours over the past year; the impact that this will have on children with low incidence special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30653/12]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 210: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total amount of resource hours provided to each pupil with low incidence special educational needs in the 2010/2011 academic year; the total amount of resource hours that will be provided to each pupil for 2012/2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30654/12]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 233: 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 timescale for construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30916/12]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 52: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the consequences for schools and pupils needing additional help due to the reduction in the allocations for resource teachers and special needs assistants for 2012/2013; if he has considered the concerns outlined by representative groups in the education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30224/12]

Written Answers — Higher Education Institutions: Higher Education Institutions (19 Jun 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 261: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he will take in relation to unauthorised expenditure by universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29786/12]