Results 10,381-10,400 of 18,325 for speaker:Brendan Smith

State Examinations (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister. The initiative announced and implemented by the previous Minister was a good and important one, given the requisite to provide people with the necessary skills and expertise to avail of emerging job opportunities. The technology area holds significant potential and Ireland remains an attractive location for investment.

Post-Leaving Certification Courses (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister of State will be aware that participation on PLC courses has grown incrementally over the past number of years giving rise to huge demand for places. The recently announced jobs initiative provides for additional places on PLC courses, which I welcome. Given the high level of unemployment here and the need for people currently out of the labour market to upskill, there will be...

Post-Leaving Certification Courses (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister of State, in making those decisions, should also take into account the geographic ingredient. Counties like mine do not have ready access to institutes of technology. The Minister of State will be aware that geographically we are some distance from the nearest institute while other counties have the benefit of institutes of technology or higher level colleges. I understand that...

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister previously spoke about capital utilisation in higher education. Is he referring to a 12-month academic year and a constant use of resources? As we all know, plant and facilities are very expensive to put in place and maintain. Is this what he has in mind, given his particular phraseology?

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: No, but I read the Minister's speech.

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister referred to multiple provision of similar courses in our third level institutions. If a university or an institute of technology proposes to introduce a new course must it get approval from the HEA or other governing authority in order to avoid unnecessary duplication?

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 7: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the terms of reference for the proposed study by the Higher Education Authority into the sustainability of the existing funding framework for third level. [14705/11]

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his innovative approach to answering questions. We have all experienced cases of Ministers reading out only half of a prepared reply because it was excessively long. I look forward to having a good dialogue with the Minister. In his recent address to the Royal Irish Academy the Minister referred to the major challenges facing the education system arising from...

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister referred to the need for better utilisation of existing resources. Does he mean human resources, personnel and the range of teaching facilities available at different colleges? The Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, will be familiar with a particular project with which he and I were associated in the past, namely, an alliance between Teagasc and University College Cork which...

Third Level Funding (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: While I ask the House to forgive me for referring again to Teagasc, it has offered e-learning courses for some time. This is a practical option as it facilitates students who wish to work during the day and may not always be able to travel. Do the terms of reference for the HEA's study include the possibility of reintroducing student fees?

School Books (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 10: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to tackle the large mark-up on school books and reconsider meeting with book publishers to discuss the mark-up on school books as an additional measure to the issuing of guidance to school principals and the provision of funding to schools for books [14706/11]

School Books (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: I thank the Minister for his reply and I am glad that he will make arrangements to meet with school-book publishers. I have raised this question previously and the Minister said he would keep that request under consideration. I have received correspondence, as I presume other Members have, from a printing company in this country that lost a contract with a major school-book publisher. In...

School Books (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: I welcome the Minister's comments. Once a Minister and a Department puts an issue on the agenda, even though they do not have the power to directly intervene, it brings a new importance to the particular task at hand. I am sure no right thinking company would ignore the views of a Minister or a Department on an issue that has been ongoing for far too many years. On a matter that relates to...

School Books (8 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: The Minister rightly pointed out that there have been some great innovative projects by different school communities throughout the country. I did not get the opportunity to mention to him previously the use of technology by County Cavan VEC. There are projects within some of its second level schools where subjects such as mathematics are taught through the e-learning process. If the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 41: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, in view of the widespread concern about delays in processing passport applications, the proposals he has to reduce considerably the timescale in approving such applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14066/11]

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (2 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 80: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal to amalgamate and rationalise vocational education committees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14065/11]

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (2 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he proposes to extend the number of patronage bodies for second level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14064/11]

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (2 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the proposal to establish a skills agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14067/11]

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (1 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 103: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made regarding the need to ensure the maximum number of temporary or substitute teaching opportunities are provided for qualified teachers who are out of work and not for retired personnel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13778/11]

Written Answers — Teaching Contracts: Teaching Contracts (1 Jun 2011)

Brendan Smith: Question 123: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers employed on contracts of indefinite duration in secondary schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13869/11]