Results 9,901-9,920 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 650: To ask the Minister for Health the progress being made by the Health Service Executive in ensuring the restoration of general practitioner services at a centre (details supplied) in County Cavan; in view of the widespread concern of the local community, which has a large population, if this matter will be given urgent consideration; and if he will make a statement on the...

Private Members' Business. Small Primary Schools: Motion (31 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: I move: That Dáil Éireann: — condemns the Government for introducing changes to the staffing schedules in 1, 2, 3 and 4 teacher schools in Budget 2012; — objects to this policy decision which unfairly targets schools with less than 86 pupils and which will result in a loss of 250 posts and an increase in the pupil/teacher ratio between now and 2013; — further objects to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (26 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 105: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the position regarding the Industrial Development Agency Border regional office in Cavan town; the number of staff that are employed there on a full-time basis; the role of this particular office at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4742/12]

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (25 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 10: To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will list in order from one to five the five main barriers to competitiveness in the economy here; the steps he has taken to reduce these barriers; the steps he intends to take to reduce these barriers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4173/12]

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (25 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 86: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4438/12]

Written Answers — Political Reform Agenda: Political Reform Agenda (24 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 65: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views regarding political reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3777/12]

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is committed to reversing in full the decision taken in Budget 2012 to cut 428 DEIS posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3109/12]

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I am glad that last week he admitted that the wrong option had been taken on DEIS. I am not making a meal of it; I do not believe in such commentary. We get on with the business. There is evidence, from the Educational Research Centre and from speaking to parents and teachers, that DEIS has been very successful. In a comparison of the same pupils'...

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: As we all know, 30 September is the important date for school enrolments. Surely when the Department presented possible options to the Minister for making savings and reducing expenditure, his decision should have been based on the most up date information on school enrolments. We have access to modern technology and we pride ourselves on quick access to information. There is no reason...

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: I implore him to complete the review at the earliest opportunity to ensure the maximum support is provided to these schools. There is concern that the Minister's proposals will spread the 428 legacy posts across the mainstream system. Teachers fear they will be taken from DEIS schools and employed elsewhere. Is the Minister indicating that posts will still be cut at these schools or will...

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: The exercise is not that big.

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views that following his decision to allow schools to manage guidance provision within their standard allocation that schools are now faced with the situation whereby they either cut career guidance and counselling services or introduce reduced subject choice; if he will confirm if schools are still required to provide an...

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. There is widespread concern, as the Minister is aware from correspondence to himself and to all Members of the Oireachtas, about the difficulties facing this service in schools. As we all know, the career guidance and counselling service does not just offer final year support; it is used throughout second level, whether that is five or six years, and in...

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: My understanding is that en enrolment of 500 pupils entitles a school to a guidance counsellor for 22 hours per week, which is a full-time post. This is graduated downwards for smaller numbers of pupils. If a school has an enrolment of 200, it is entitled to eight hours of career guidance and counselling. My understanding is that service is provided by an appropriately qualified person....

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: Can I-----

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

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School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: It is my priority question.

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: The Minister is aware of how every primary school is an integral part of the local community. Thankfully, over the past decade there has been huge investment in improving the school infrastructure through modernisation, refurbishment and providing new accommodation. All international evidence shows that outcomes from small schools are as good as those from larger schools. In fairness, it...

School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: I appeal to the Minister, as Deputy Penrose did, to examine the practical option of taking a retrospective view as of 30 September as this would enable schools to exceed the required enrolment. Until the budget was introduced, learning support and resource hours could be combined to make one full-time post in a school. This is no longer the case and the scenario that has been put to me is...

Proposed Legislation (19 Jan 2012)

Brendan Smith: I ask the Minister to ensure the views conveyed at a meeting of 22 July last between all the relevant groups and officials of his Department are taken into account. Some of the groups expressed concern about what they understood would be the broad scope of the work of the statutory fund. The education board has done good work supporting survivors and their children and grandchildren,...