Results 2,521-2,540 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire has deferred his questions. He will come back in later and, when he does, I will call on him as the next questioner.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I ask that we stick to the Ukrainian issue. I know the Deputy is broadening to touch on other issues but I want to stick to the Ukrainian issue.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Absolutely. We can hold another meeting to have a broader debate but I do not want to lose our focus on today's point.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Whoever wishes to reply first may do so.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I call Deputy Jim O'Callaghan then we will go back to Deputy Ó Laoghaire.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: It was Deputy Ó Cathasaigh's proposal that we have this round of meetings with both the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, last week and a meeting with the witnesses this week. For that reason, I will give Deputy Ó Cathasaigh an extra minute.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I will give the Deputy a while more.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Whomever wishes may go first.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Yes, briefly.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Does anyone else want to respond?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I will ask some questions in the same area as Deputy O'Sullivan. There is huge pressure on school buildings, school places and teachers. Teachers cannot be educated over a two-month period. We cannot build and create school places that we do not have over a two-month period. What is the alternative?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I am not racist in any way. These people are in dire need. However, refugees are currently having to sleep in the Red Cow Moran Hotel. The Irish Refugee Council has raised concerns about the accommodation issue, as was reported on the news yesterday. That aside, there will be a similar situation in our schools in September, October and November. I have engaged with schools in my own...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: The point has been missed that it is great to come up with a plan and everything like that, but we cannot build classrooms, educate teachers or create school places in three or four months over the summer. In my constituency, school staff are coming to me saying they cannot take any more people. The schools are bursting at the seams. Children who should be getting additional resources are...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I know where we are in terms of the numbers. I am referring to services, including housing, education, health and everything else. I know what is happening in the UK, but how do we compare with other European countries?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: I understand. I was just wondering if the witnesses had that information.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Absolutely. I see that happening in my constituency. Wexford County Council is shaking every tree in every townland, village, parish and town right across the county looking for accommodation. The management of one school has said it cannot take any more people. My point is that there is no use in the council securing accommodation in an area where there is no provision for school places...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Mr. Henderson is missing the point. We cannot educate teachers, construct new buildings and everything like that right now. I am asking whether we should continue to take in Ukrainian refugees at the current rate or if we should stall to re-evaluate and make sure we are making adequate provision for the people who already are here.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Is it not also unethical not to be giving these children a proper education?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: What happens when it comes to September and October?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Education and Supports Provision for Displaced Ukrainian Students: Discussion (14 Jun 2022)
Paul Kehoe: Before I call the next speaker, I reiterate the point I am making. If a teacher is absent today and the school has to get a substitute, it will take 20 or 30 telephone calls to find one. There are not sufficient numbers of teachers at this time. That is the way it is. However, I have taken up way too much time. The next speaker is Senator Dolan.