Results 3,281-3,300 of 6,465 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Finance Bill 2020: Report Stage (2 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I wish to make a specific point about the CRSS and how it relates to pubs, but I will first make a general point on an issue that has been widely discussed. There is much frustration among the public. Undoubtedly, we all appreciate the situation we are in and the public health advice, but it is vital not only that the tens of thousands of people who are working in the hospitality industry,...

Pay for Student Nurses and Midwives: Motion [Private Members] (2 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: If nurses could be paid in applause and lip service, they would be truly wealthy. The fact is that they cannot. Lip service and applause does not put food on the table, clothe a family or pay the rent. We can call them heroes and thank them for all the wonderful work they do. Unless progress is made on these issues, however, then they are entitled to feel aggrieved. The allowances...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (2 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, before taking up a teaching position in Ireland having qualified in another country, it is a requirement to have completed the NQT year in the country of qualification. [40553/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (2 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the re-establishment of painting apprenticeships in Cork city. [40741/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 136. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the provision of paediatric rheumatology services in Ireland; when a third paediatric rheumatologist will commence their position; and the steps he is taking to lessen the significant waiting list which is currently three years long. [40527/20]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Services (2 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 137. To ask the Minister for Health when the outcome of the meeting held in December 2019 between rheumatology specialists and an organisation (details supplied) will be relayed to parents of children with arthritis; and when the information leaflets on the incidence of arthritis in children with Down's syndrome will be supplied to general practitioners and other health professionals.. [40528/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a high-risk SNA can work from home during the lockdown restrictions if the management team of a school agrees to same. [39977/20]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not sure whether the Minister or the Minister of State will reply to this question. I have a specific case in mind, but it applies to the broad issue of school staff and high risk versus very high risk. As I have pointed out previously, very high risk is a very high threshold and many people who are severely immunocompromised with conditions such as leukemia and others are deemed high...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The same principles apply, so I will take whatever reply the Minister of State has.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I will speak first about the case I have in mind, although anonymously with regard to the brass tacks. This SNA is high risk. I would deem the person to be very high risk in the ordinary meaning of the words, but the person has not met that threshold with Medmark Occupational Healthcare. The person's doctor, principal and the board of management agree that it is not safe for the person to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staff (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am glad the Minister of State referred to PPE. It is still my view that all SNAs should be provided with the medical-grade masks mentioned by the Minister of State. For the vast majority of SNAs, the instances in which they will be moving to within 2 m of children or outside it occur very frequently throughout the day. It is the easiest and most sensible thing to do. The problem with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have two questions concerning certain things that are happening at this time. The first relates to the new model for the allocation of special needs assistants. My experience is that where schools experience a sudden relative increase in the number of children with identified special needs in a classroom, the model is not responsive enough. It was previously the case that if a child with...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am glad to see the Minister engage with this - other Ministers would have taken the attitude that it was nothing to do with them - but I would like to see her engage with it more. She will be very aware that one of the key trade unions in the sector has made this a point on which it is engaging with the Department and the HSE on potential industrial action, which is a very serious thing we...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Weekly meetings are valuable but there needs to be progress as well. One of the issues is communication. Part of this is the communication at a local level between the HSE and the schools. There are schools the Minister will know that have expressed frustration about that. In some instances it has worked perfectly and in other instances it has not worked so well, and I am sure she will be...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the criteria which the school-specific contact tracing teams will work off, including a clear outline of who will be identified as a close contact in the school setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39972/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: As the Minister knows, Sinn Féin supports keeping the virus out of schools and safely keeping them open. This necessarily means swiftly dealing with Covid-19 cases as soon as they arise within schools. It is good to know that there are school-specific contact teams, but we need more clarity on the criteria by which they will work. A lot of school staff and students have been in touch...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether special educational units in mainstream schools are not suitable for all children with additional needs; and her plans to increase special educational places and to open new special schools. [39971/20]

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: It is very positive that additional ASD units are being opened in schools across the State. Undoubtedly, we need many more. The demand for units is constantly growing. However, my question focuses on the fact that while those units fulfil a very important role, they are not suitable for everyone. I am concerned that we are not building enough special schools and that there may be some...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I agree with every word of that response but the key part that we need to drill into is the part that says where it is assessed that it is not possible or suitable for a child to be educated in such a unit and that they have a greater or different need. Generally, that relates to special schools. There is concern among those involved in special schools and in units that there is resistance...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (1 Dec 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am aware of much of that. Some positive things are happening in the special education sphere in Cork albeit that it is coming from one of the lowest bases. It is in a very challenging place even compared with other parts of the country. The Minister of State mentioned greenfield sites. Some special schools are in buildings that are just not fit for purpose. They need a greenfield site...