Results 9,641-9,660 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 76: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the effect of changes to the staffing schedule in one, two, three and four teacher schools on minority faith schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26035/12]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 82: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the proposal to provide additional permanent accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Cavan will be progressed without further delay in view of the growth in enrolment in that school and the over reliance on temporary accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26039/12]

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 83: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a capital works application submitted by a school (details supplied) in County Limerick in 2007. [26061/12]

Written Answers — Turbary Rights: Turbary Rights (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 119: To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if his attention has been drawn to the serious concerns of turf cutters in counties Cavan, Longford and Westmeath who have turbary rights in the general Lough Sheelin area; the efforts being made to address adequately such concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26038/12]

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when he expects to receive proposals from the Capital Asset Test implementation group regarding higher education grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26033/12]

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: The announcement in budget 2012 that the value of certain capital assets would be taken into account in the assessment of means for student grants has caused concern to many self employed people, particularly land owners and farmers. It would be absolutely wrong to include productive assets in the means assessment. Such a system would discriminate against self employed people, including...

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Could the Minister ensure that the group looks at the social welfare assessment system? In the Department of Social Protection's means assessment farm land is categorised as property personally used and enjoyed. The assessment is based on the annual income derived from that asset and, quite correctly, there can be no additional calculation of notional means for the value of the asset. That...

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Quite correctly, we have moved a long way from that. Consider the situation in farming. Unfortunately, farm income can be very cyclical. One can have one or two good years but, unfortunately, that can be affected by weather, even weather in another continent. The dairy farmer, for example, can have a good year but if there are favourable climate conditions in Australia, New Zealand or...

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Agreed.

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: That facility has been extended in the past.

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: It has been extended in the past.

Departmental Agencies (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of FÁS; if he will provide a timeline for the establishment of SOLAS; the progress made to date in establishing SOLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26034/12]

Departmental Agencies (24 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply on this matter which we have discussed in this House and in committee on numerous occasions. The Minister stated that it is hoped discussion on the legislation will be completed in the autumn session. Is he reasonably confident that the new structures will be in place by the end of this calendar year? There is confusion among members of the public, who...

Written Answers — Household Charge: Household Charge (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 169: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No 476 of 1 May 2012, if he will clarify the question of whether the household charge is due on apartments on Dublin Docklands Development Authority property where as part of the management fee a specific amount for provision of local services is collected and paid to the...

Written Answers — Water Services: Water Services (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 170: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the installation of water meters or provision for same in new developments, and water pipe replacement works; the number of cases in which provision for meters has been made; the date on which this policy began; the reason it was commenced; the way it has been funded to date; if it's...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 191: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans there are, or that will be implemented to increase turkey production in view of the fact that there is substantial turkey farm and hatchery capacity not being utilised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25934/12]

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 192: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to incentivise turkey production; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25959/12]

Written Answers — Hospitals Building Programme: Hospitals Building Programme (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 198: To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding his plans for the new national children' hospital; if he will summarise the terms for selection of the new site; the main changes from previous selection criteria; the number of sites now under consideration; the groups that have been met by him, his advisors or officials; the details of same; the information on the scoring...

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: I mentioned to the Minister prior to the adjournment of the debate on the Bill yesterday that he might clarify when replying to Second Stage or on Committee Stage, whichever is the most satisfactory, why the National University of Ireland was excluded from the merger of these bodies.

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Brendan Smith: That is perfect. The Bill states the recognised universities of the NUI must establish quality assurance procedures and have those procedures approved by the authority. While the NUI would be covered by the quality standards outlined in the Bill and would be required to meet them, it would remain as a separate awarding body. The Minister outlined again yesterday, as he did when he...