Results 3,421-3,440 of 3,683 for speaker:Gary Gannon

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: We are discussing the reopening of our schools and I would imagine that, all over the country, educators are listening in to what we have to say. Not only that, they will also be looking at where it is we are saying it. I want to direct the point not necessarily at the Minister, who has no control over this, but more at the political establishment itself. We are speaking here in an...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I will begin by expressing my deep gratitude for the work undertaken by the school education community, from school leaders and principals to teachers, SNAs and school secretaries. The work undertaken since the beginning of the pandemic has been nothing short of heroic. That should be acknowledged and it is lamentable that it has not been captured or highlighted in much of the public...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I ask Mr. Pike to answer the question on the guidelines and how we can improve the professionalisation of special educational needs assistants.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I thank all the speakers for their comprehensive presentations. I have three or four questions. I do not think I will get through all of them but I will try. I direct my first question to Ms Dempsey and the representatives from Inclusion Ireland. It was heartbreaking going through that organisation's report and learning of the regression that many students with intellectual disabilities...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I thank Ms Dempsey. I have a question for the representatives of secondary school parents. They have probably not been able to address their members on this so they might give a personal opinion, if they have one, or they can come back to me on it. Regarding the adjusted leaving certificate results that will be out next week, is there particular information that parents would like to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I thank the Minister for appearing in front of the committee today and I want to acknowledge her work to date. I understand the pressure must be immense and while we certainly differ in approach, I appreciate the work she has contributed so far. The last line of the Minister’s statement stated that “now, more than ever, we need to stay in this together”. My Sinn...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I only have five minutes. This is not about anxiousness.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: International public health advice regarding CLL, which the mother suffers from, is to remain cocooned. That is not possible if they are sending two teenage children to individual schools. The one-size-fits-all model does not suit this family and they are being left behind. They have written to the Minister and an official from the Department wrote back, telling them to get in contact with...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: I will highlight the fact that there is a contradiction between the HSE and NPHET guidelines, which state that very high-risk people should remain cocooned and limit interactions. That is in direct contradiction with this family's individual case. I will move on as I have other questions. I refer to the ranking system that will be announced next week following the leaving certificate....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Gary Gannon: My only concern is with regard to rank order and I hope it can be addressed. I thank the Minister for engaging with me.

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: I thank the Minister. I did not really get an answer on Portakabins but I will move on to the issue of teacher recruitment.

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: That is okay because I do not have that much time. The 1,000 new teachers that were allocated for secondary schools are very welcome. We have 723 secondary schools in this country. Does the Minister believe that will be enough if there is a second wave? I will also touch on the recruitment process for those 1,000 teachers. There is currently no advertisement related to the recruitment...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: I will touch on the lead worker representative role, an especially interesting position being catered for in the roadmap. I imagine it is quite a difficult position. Will the Minister tell us about this role, the person in charge of all the Covid related activities and precautions in a school? How will this person be identified? My understanding is he or she can be any member of the...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: We will agree to disagree there. I have only a short amount of time left so I will ask a very quick question. This year's leaving certificate cohort will arrive back in school on 7 September. The Minister knows from being in schools that when the leaving certificate results come out, all these students come back, some in a state of emotional distress and some seeking extra guidance and...

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: Could I use my time to ask a question, receive an answer, ask another question and receive another answer?

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: Brilliant. I thank the Minister for taking the time to speak to us this evening. I want to ask her about recommendation 5 of the framework to reopen schools. I will read it out just so she knows what I am referring to. It states "For those larger classes which remain difficult to accommodate consider a live streaming of that class to another room or area in the school." I have contacted...

Adjournment of Dáil: Motion (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: It is imperative that we continue to sit, particularly on the subject of the reopening of schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: DEIS Scheme (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: 60. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to address literacy and numeracy levels for students particularly those returning to DEIS schools in cases in which there was a pre-existing gap prior to Covid-19; if this will involve an essential increase in teacher continuous professional development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19384/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: 63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if support will be provided and or the suggested recourse for schools vetting new non-teaching staff in view of time constraints and the significant administrative burden on schools preparing to reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19335/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Gary Gannon: 81. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a reduction in the curriculum for incoming sixth years and changing the leaving certificate examinations in 2021 has been investigated to reflect the disruption to learning due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19336/20]