Results 1,581-1,600 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 238. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the appointment of contractors for a school building project (details supplied) that has received approval to progress the project to stage 2B; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46951/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a review being undertaken by a SENO for additional SNA support in a school (details supplied) will be completed; if the case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46980/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the issue of class sizes in primary schools was not addressed in the Budget Statement 2019; his plans to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47130/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 247. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the publication of the education (parent and student charter) Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47131/18]

Written Answers — Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Construction Industry (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 295. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if she will review the workings and effectiveness of the Construction Contracts Act 2013; if she is satisfied that subcontractors are aware of and proactive in enforcing their entitlements with a contractor for payments that are due; her plans to increase awareness of this provision in the Act; and if she will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medicinal Products Reimbursement (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 414. To ask the Minister for Health if an access programme will be established for the drug Spinraza for children with spinal muscular atrophy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46979/18]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 478. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will take immediate steps to restrict single-use plastic products here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46978/18]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Local Authority Functions (13 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 641. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to encourage or incentivise local authorities to use their compulsory purchase order, CPO, powers to buy up derelict or vacant houses in order to increase their social housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47132/18]

Personal Injuries Assessment Board (Amendment)(No. 2) Bill 2018: Second Stage (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I welcome the opportunity to make a short contribution to this legislation. I support what the Bill purports to do. I wish to acknowledge and put on record that this is the second tranche of legislation in recent times dealing with the issue around the cost of insurance. The Central Bank (National Claims Information Database) Bill was before the House during the past month. I do not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: 8. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if, since the establishment of the community enhancement programme, there have been specific supports or programmes to provide targeted assistance for the 51 most disadvantaged areas formerly known as RAPID areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46001/18]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Business of Joint Committee (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: The joint committee is in public session. Apologies have been received from Senator Nash. The members are all welcome to this meeting of the joint committee. I remind them to ensure their phones are switched off. I propose we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I welcome Mr. John McKeon, Secretary General of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, and his two colleagues, Ms Vaughan and Mr. Flynn. I will invite them to make a presentation to the joint committee. When they have concluded, members will have an opportunity to ask questions. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I thank Mr. McKeon for his opening statement. Before I open the discussion to members, I have one general question. Mr. McKeon set out in some detail the technical issues relating to IT and the change of system. One of the real issues for members and the public was the lack of information and access. The public could not get through to the Department by phone and neither could we. At...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I will come to Mr. McKeon, but there are a number of other questioners and I will take all of them together.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: Mr. McKeon has indicated that a retired Revenue Commissioner is doing a review and that is important. When a Department is dealing with as many transactions as the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, there is always the potential for something to go wrong. The critical issue is how problems are dealt with. In this instance, the lack of communication was the problem....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I will.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I thank Mr. McKeon. I am conscious of the time. If anyone has a short comment, I will take it.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I thank Mr. McKeon, Ms Vaughan and Mr. Flynn for their attendance today and also for their frank, honest and direct replies to the questions asked. I acknowledge that Mr. McKeon indicated that if there were specific unresolved cases of which members were aware, they should be directed to the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: That was an important thing. It is also worth acknowledging that the officials understand the depth of feeling among members on foot of the distress this caused to people. Mr. McKeon acknowledged clearly that when the problem occurred, communications and a lack of contingency planning presented difficulties. I hope those things are built in as future programmes are rolled out. Questions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Social Protection: Delays in Payment of Illness Benefit: Discussion (8 Nov 2018)

John Curran: I thank the witnesses for their attendance. We will suspend for a few minutes to allow the witnesses to withdraw and the next set of witnesses to come in.