Results 10,381-10,400 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date in establishing SOLAS; when he expects this process to be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25610/11]

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I had the opportunity at the committee and elsewhere the welcome the Government decision to establish SOLAS and to give the further education sector a particular entity of its own. Surely urgency is not being attached to the establishment of SOLAS if the implementation group meets at three weekly intervals. I know that constant meetings just for...

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: I did not for one moment suggest that the different interest groups are unhappy with the proposal as it is my understanding that they welcome it. The Minister of State did not mention that a CEO was participating in the group. It is not always the case that a small group can achieve more. It is important that all interests are represented. It is not a matter of deciding that half a dozen...

Further Education and Training (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Speaking on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party, I do not believe the Houses of the Oireachtas will delay the proposals, which I am sure other parties will also support.

Residential Institutions Redress Board (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. I think it was in July that we discussed that legislation, which was taken through the House by the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon. What the Minister says is correct; the process has been ongoing for a number of years. When we were discussing that legislation on Second Stage and Committee Stage, I asked whether provision could be made, with the...

Residential Institutions Redress Board (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: During the discussion on the legislation, I asked the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, if he could ask the officials of the redress board to ensure the final closing date of 16 September would be widely publicised outside our own island. Does the Minister have available to him the number of those applications that came from outside our own jurisdiction?

Residential Institutions Redress Board (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: At that time, in discussions with the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, I asked that the Irish network abroad, through the different representative associations, would engage with this because they might know from among their membership people who might be potential applicants. That would be better than depending on lawyers and advertising to propagate the closing date.

School Transport (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Given the implementation of the rule that the child will only be eligible for transport to the nearest school, will siblings be able to avail of transport to a school where older family members are attending? We do not want a situation where the children in a family are going to two different primary schools.

Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply. Do I understand him correctly that the NCSE is reviewing the allocation to all special schools?

Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: I presume the remaining approvals that can issue, in total 475, are applicable to all primary schools?

Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: As the school year proceeds, can we be sure there will be no inordinate delay in ensuring that SNAs are approved and put in place as soon as possible where the relevant criteria are met? Deputy Crowe inquired about a school in County Kildare. I am aware of the case in question because I have received correspondence in respect of it. I know the parents involved and also one of the children...

Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: The primary school-going population changes very little after Hallowe'en. If, therefore, the Minister approved appointments in respect of 99.99% of the 475 positions, I do not believe he would be straying outside the terms of the employment control framework. The earlier approvals issue the better. This matter is of the utmost importance to the children and families involved.

Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: When the results of the survey become available, will the Minister of State be in a position to ensure schools will no longer be able to hire unqualified maths teachers? Will the programme of upskilling and the opportunity to gain additional qualifications be mandatory for maths teachers who do not, per se, possess a degree in the subject?

Teaching Qualifications (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: I accept what the Minister of State said. Does he have faith in this hastily arranged survey undertaken by the Teaching Council? I understand only 30% of schools actually responded to the survey. Does the Minister of State accept evidence from that number of schools as a good snapshot of the overall position? Is it correct that when Project Maths was launched, funding was provided in...

Third Level Education (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Is it still the case that two of our universities are ranked among the top 100 universities in the world? All of them are within the top 500, but, to my knowledge, at one stage two of them were within the top 100.

School Staffing (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Is there any evidence available that there has been progress, from the point of view of the children, where mainstreaming has occurred? Earlier in the summer the issue arose in regard to transport to specific schools for children from the Traveller community and the Department replied that efforts had been made to achieve more mainstreaming of the children in terms of attending their local...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 30: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consultations with all interested groups are complete in relation to the establishment of a statutory fund to support the needs of former residents of residential institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25240/11]

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 130: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given further consideration to the need to appoint additional special needs assistants at a school (details supplied) in Dublin 24 particularly in view of the continued concerns of the local school community in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25614/11]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 262: To ask the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the present level of services at the minor injuries unit in Monaghan General Hospital will be retained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25575/11]

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (22 Sep 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 263: To ask the Minister for Health the progress made to date on the proposal to establish a medical assessment unit at Monaghan General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25576/11]