Results 2,021-2,040 of 6,465 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Okay. There are two major points I want to raise. I raise again the situation in the Cork Life Centre. I know this was an overall review but this saga has been going on for some time. There has been back and forth but it seems to be difficult to finally get to an arrangement that allows Cork Life Centre to continue in a sustainable way and to retain the staff who are committed to the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Review of Out-of-School Provision Report and Education and Supports Provision for Ukrainian Students: Discussion (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The response to queries raised regarding the life centre for at least a year has been that this review was forthcoming. I do not know that that was entirely fair to the centre or to people like us who asked questions in good faith about it. The Department knew the report only dealt with children up to 15, while the Cork Life Centre deals with children up to 18. This review, no matter how...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: This is a very significant challenge. I acknowledge the excellent work being done by schools, by REALT and by school communities. I also acknowledge the Department has been under very severe pressure on this. I am sure not everything is perfect but significant work is going on. I acknowledge the work of the Department in ensuring these children who are coming from a very grim situation...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Is the Department looking at exam centres for people to do Ukrainian exams?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We could suspend the meeting.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I think that should be okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will not keep the Minister long. As with the previous Department, I commend the work being done by his Department and people on the ground in further and higher education institutions to support people in the area of English language. It is obviously very important. While it is not the same with respect to scale, Ukrainians are not the only refugees. I think of the people fleeing...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Minister is right. If the Afghans were programme refugees, as the Syrian refugees were, perhaps they would qualify. I understand that to be the case and they would enjoy particular entitlements.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I do not understand the exact modalities of how the protection directive applies to Ukraine but the oppression and suffering Afghans have suffered is no less and in some instances may be greater. It is invidious to try to compare conflicts in any event-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: -----but, either way, I ask the Department to look at that. The numbers involved are not enormous. I am aware that when people come here and seek asylum there has to be a determination made of their status and everything connected to that. I also know there are scholarship schemes at certain universities run for people in direct provision. Having said that, I do not believe we can...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I gave that example because I had an experience that caused me to reflect on the situation. I visited a number of schools in Waterford and at one school I happened to ask the principal if the school had any Ukrainian students. He said he had been late to meet me because I was finding a place for two Afghan children. It is just that we should not forget those children either.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I emphasise the point made previously that Ukrainian students coming here will in many instances have suffered severe trauma. The Minister alluded to mental health supports. I emphasise that point on which I do not need a response. The issue of apprenticeships has been addressed, as far as I can gather. When tradespeople who arrive here need their papers, does that fall under the remit...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: They must register with some board or other. We have a trade shortage. Are there tradespeople who could come into our system?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Provision of Education Supports for Ukrainian Students (1 Jun 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank the Minister.

Food Price Rises: Motion [Private Members] (31 May 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Workers and families across the State, including in my community in Cork city, cannot catch a break. They are forced to make incredibly difficult choices which no family should have to make between paying a bill and putting food on the table. That issue will rise further up the agenda as time goes on. They have to choose between turning on the heating or filling the car to go to school or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 May 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 352. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of a passport application (details supplied). [27989/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (31 May 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 407. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of capitation allocated per pupil at primary level and secondary level. [27780/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (31 May 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 408. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children that applied for the school transport scheme for the 2021/2022 school year and were deemed ineligible; and the estimated cost to provide school transport free of charge to those children. [27781/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (31 May 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 409. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first year and full year saving of removing the monetary subsidy given to private schools. [27803/22]