Results 2,861-2,880 of 5,761 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: To clarify, the Minister was not invited to this meeting. This meeting is purely to-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: It is purely to establish the facts; we will be reporting to the Minister and making recommendations.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Just in case there was a sense that he had not turned up, I want to make it very clear that he was not invited to this meeting. I am sure he is aware through the Department that the meeting is on. We will in the next stage of the process be issuing recommendations and a report. I just want to clarify that. I will go back to the witnesses and invite them to respond to the three members.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I will ask Mr. Richard Dolan to respond.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: It is obvious that we need to have clear and consistent communication. The level of queries around the school transport system indicates that there is something radically wrong. It appears that there is insufficient information on the Department's website and that parents are not sure if their child has a place on a service. While I accept that steps were taken after the difficulties last...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I will allow Deputy Martin back in but only for clarification purposes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Deputy Byrne also asked about secondments in the context of the papal visit. He also asked about the number of children with special educational needs on the waiting list.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: So it should not have impacted-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I felt it was about vehicles with staff on them. We can ask Deputy Byrne to come back in later on that. I ask for data on the number of children with special needs who are currently waiting.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Dolan for that clarification. Senator Gallagher is next.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Deputy Breathnach has just mentioned the Topical Issue debate to me. To be honest, I was not aware of the matter. Normally, we allow all of the members of the committee to comment first.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Senator Ruane is a member of the committee and is the next to speak. Would she mind if Deputies Breathnach and Aylward asked brief questions so they can leave to attend the Topical Issue debate in five minutes?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Senator. I call Deputy Breathnach as he was here first.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I urge the Deputy to be brief.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: If the Deputy had indicated that he had to attend the Topical Issue debate I would have asked the other members to allow him to comment earlier. I was only made aware of his situation literally a minute ago.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Deputy Bobby Aylward. I also thank Senator Lynn Ruane for her indulgence.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: That is fine. I ask that it be sent to me and the clerk to the committee and we will circulate it.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Senator Conway Walsh. To be fair to the witnesses who are present, they are implementing the existing policy and they do not put it in place. That is a political decision for the Government of the day. I appreciate that the witnesses will be precluded from commenting on policy. However, we are open to the possibility of hearing about improvements that could be put in place....
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: We have another set of questioners but for now, I will go back to the witnesses.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: School Transport Scheme: Discussion (25 Sep 2018)
Fiona O'Loughlin: Through the Chairperson, yes.