Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

School Textbooks

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

230. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 11 March 2014, regarding decisions on the use of workbooks, in which he stated that the Education Act, 1998, places a responsibility on boards of management to manage the school on behalf of the patron of the school and for the benefit of the students and parents, and to provide or cause to be provided an appropriate education for each student at the school, boards of management, in exercising their function to ensure that an appropriate education is provided for students, have the authority to determine school policy on this matter, it seems clear, that he is saying that boards of management have the authority to determine school policy on this matter, however in the next sentence he states that, teachers under the guidance of the senior management of the school must make decisions on the textbooks or workbooks to be used in line with the school policy determined by the board, if he will explain, whether it is the board of management or the teachers who determine whether or not workbooks are used in a school in the event of a disagreement between the board of management and the teachers as to whether these workbooks should or should not be used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16659/14]

School Textbooks

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

231. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 11 March 2014, in which he states that, he is conscious of the additional costs that may have to be borne by parents if workbooks are used extensively in schools and the Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools, published by my Department in 2012, to outline a number of strategies that can be used to obviate the need for such workbooks; the definitions of the word "obviate" in my Concise Oxford Dictionary are, "clear away, get rid of, get round, neutralise"; subsumed in his answer is the belief, on his part, that there is a need for these workbooks; the reason he considers that there is a need for these workbooks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16661/14]

School Textbooks

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

232. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 141 of 11 March 2014, in which he states that, the Guidelines that accompany the Primary School Curriculum, 1999 acknowledge that carefully selected textbooks may play a role in supporting the implementation of the curriculum but they also warn against an over-reliance on textbooks, stating, for example, in regard to history, that it should be noted that textbooks, of their very nature, cannot adequately cover local history studies and should therefore be regarded as only one source among many for the teaching of history, he has already stated publicly that, for example in County Wexford, students should be taught about Vinegar Hill, his views on whether different history is taught in different parts of the country and whether the landing of Humbert in Killala is of interest to and should be taught only to County Mayo people, or that the Siege of Limerick, should only be taught to County Limerick people; his views on whether there is a need for authoritative and well reviewed textbooks for students as a need to overcome the shortcomings of the many awful and inadequate history teachers; his views on whether there is a need for authoritative and well reviewed textbooks for students in order to ensure that there is consistency in the teaching of history throughout the country and that there can be no disadvantages arising for students of a particular area when taking examinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16662/14]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

239. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that when a communication in relation to wrongdoing is received in his Department, the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17102/14]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

256. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that when a communication in relation to wrongdoing is received in his Department, the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17109/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

274. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if he will ensure that when a communication in relation to wrongdoing is received in his Department that the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17107/14]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

337. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will ensure that when a communication in respect of wrongdoing is received in his Department, it will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that said function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17099/14]

Ministerial Responsibilities

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

351. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will ensure that when a communication in respect of wrongdoing is received in his Department, it will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that said function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17100/14]

Election Management System

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

367. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the positions of invigilator at polling stations for the European and local elections 2014 can be filled by those on the live register of unemployed; his views on whether this would be a positive, if small, step to include those who are currently excluded from work and income in our society; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/14]

National Roads Authority Remit

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

371. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding correspondence being issued by Laois County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16230/14]

Water Services Provision

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

386. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government with regard to the setting up of Irish Water, what will become of those water schemes that currently own their own infrastructure but get their water from a local authority; the way they will be charged for the water they distribute through pipelines that they developed and installed themselves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16523/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

412. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that when a communication in relation to wrongdoing is received in his Department it will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17103/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

470. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will ensure that when a communication on wrongdoing is received in his Department the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17108/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

479. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure that when a communication on wrongdoing is received in his Department the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17101/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

514. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that when a communication in relation to wrongdoing is received in his Department the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17098/14]

Medicinal Products Availability

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

662. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 11 February 2014 where the Health Service Executive stated that currently clients with medical cards can avail of continence products, therefore any client on disability allowance who also has a medical card is deemed eligible; the year in which this commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16645/14]

Hospital Charges

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

663. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 566 of 11 February 2014, where the Health Service Executive stated (details supplied); if he will clarify in regard to the the class 1 and class 2 charges when they are applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16646/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

691. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that when a communication on wrongdoing is received in his Department that the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to exercise personally the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17106/14]

Departmental Correspondence

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

744. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that when a communication in relation to wrongdoing is received in his Department that the communication will be deemed to have come to his attention; if he will confirm that, while he is not expected to personally exercise the function of dealing with wrongdoing, he is responsible for ensuring that the function is exercised;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17111/14]

Ministerial Travel

Luke 'Ming' Flanagan

24. Deputy Luke 'Ming' Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will make known the full costs of sending Ministers and Ministers of State to foreign lands to mark St. Patrick's Day; if he will point to any other nation that does similar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10352/14]