Results 9,621-9,640 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Educational Disadvantage (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Thankfully, they outlined to all of us and to the Minister, who knows as well as we do, that there has been significant much-needed progress in those schools. They are extremely disappointed that the Minister's review is not delivering what they expected and what they were promised.

Educational Disadvantage (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I appreciate that.

Educational Disadvantage (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I will write to the Minister tomorrow with the details of the three specific schools. These are schools that appreciate that the DEIS programme and its forerunner have been significantly beneficial to children, families and the wider community. They are extremely disappointed that the most recent correspondence from the Department flies in the face of what they understood from the...

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. It is one area where there was rapid progress during the decade. On Leaders' Questions recently, in response to Deputy Micheál Martin, who began the whole process of allocating special needs assistants as Minister for Education and Science in 1998, the Taoiseach stated that from 2001 to 2010 the number of SNAs had tripled. That was a very good, much...

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: The school year is coming to a close. I hope no child has been denied assistance when there was a surplus, as such, in provision. I am sure the Minister can assure us the council has ensured no child meeting the criteria and needing that assistance has been denied support.

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister and agree with his sentiments. Will the cap remain the same for the 2012-13 school year as for the present school year?

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I agree with the approach of the Minister. We have discussed previously in the House the utmost importance of safeguarding academic standards. That goes without saying. It is important that the HEA brings in an internationally renowned panel of experts. I know from speaking to members of my political party in the south east and other interested parties that the people in the south east...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Coming from south Ulster I am anxious that we drive forward the North-South agenda to a greater degree. Significant numbers of students from Cavan and Monaghan go to colleges in the North, with students from the Six Counties moving in the other direction as well. There is potential to drive that type of cross-Border facilitation forward. Dundalk Institute of Technology has made a huge...

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. It is absolutely deplorable that people in positions of such privilege and leadership in our society did not respond positively to the request made by him and by the former Secretary General, Ms Brigid McManus. Giving a donation to charity, although a positive move in itself, does not adequately meet that request. Why were academic consultants excluded...

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: On a related matter, the academic year for most third level institutions finishes relatively soon. The period in which our colleges and their top-class facilities are not in use each year is something of a farce. We are all conscious of the huge investment that took place in universities and institutes of technologies in the past decade or so. Those facilities should be in use for at least...

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I presume this reply refers to St. Laurence O'Toole's junior boys school.

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: This matter was discussed earlier and my information does not tally with the Minister's response. I will drop him a note tomorrow on this case.

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I will also double-check the data provided for me.

Teachers' Remuneration (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I completely agree with the Minister about the need to protect educational standards and that we must continue to invest in teachers. All Members would have received correspondence from and met people of different ages who expect to qualify as teachers shortly. As a result of changing careers, etc., many of these individuals already have substantial mortgage commitments and student loans...

Educational Resources (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. This pilot scheme applies only to provincial towns that have experienced rapid growth in recent years.

Educational Resources (19 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Is it confined to an inventory of educational resources alone? Why is the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland involved? This exercise is not being carried out solely by the Department.

Written Answers — Financial Services Regulation: Financial Services Regulation (18 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 48: To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to discuss with Permanent TSB the standard variable interest of 5.19% it charges on residential mortgages in view of the fact that it is out of line with the rate charged by other State owned banks. [19290/12]

Written Answers — Insurance Compensation Fund: Insurance Compensation Fund (18 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 50: To ask the Minister for Finance his views on the current operation of the insurance compensation fund; his views on whether it is adequately capitalised to meet its needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19291/12]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 287: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there was no mention of a legacy post being kept in a recent letter from his Department to a school (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17907/12]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Apr 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 284: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if all DEIS band 1 schools will retain their legacy posts in September this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17904/12]