Results 3,761-3,780 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I would be grateful if the Minister would consider the simple suggestion made by the young transition year students to whom I referred. Many transition year students have fantastic ideas such as this one, which would simply require the Minister to issue a circular encouraging schools to share facilities. Such a move would be welcomed by students and probably by schools. My party leader...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives being taken to enable greater choice for each gender regarding the school curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14682/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: My question probably should have been worded slightly more clearly. I am asking about shared facilities in schools. I recently met a delegation of transition year students from St. Joseph's girls' school in Lucan. They would love to be able to study technical graphics and building construction. They do not have the facilities in their school and they would like to share with a boys'...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action being taken to address the need for additional schools infrastructure and staffing in areas of rapidly growing population and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14681/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Could the Minister for Education and Skills tell me the position with regard to rapidly growing areas? I am not convinced that enough is being done in the Department to make sure the supply of schools and school places is sufficient.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to see that some action is being taken in the Department on foot of concerns that I hope the Minister's officials have raised with him because I have certainly raised them with the officials over the past year or two. I would like to know when the decision to carry out this exercise was taken because we have been told over the past number of years that everything was in hand in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: My information is that the Department received that information from the local authority but it was not requested by the Department of Education and Skills regarding the non-large-scale developments, which is all Ashbourne has. There would not be any under the new planning process or indeed under LIHAF but the area is still growing rapidly. I am afraid the spin unit is rubbing off a bit on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the six-year route to qualifying as a second level teacher is too long. [14449/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether schools are generally in severe financial difficulties; and if an increase in capitation rates will be ensured. [14453/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a clear path to pay equality for newly qualified teachers will be in place. [14450/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of pay scales of teachers or resource staff members in Youthreach, adult education or PLC colleges; and if there is a national common scale. [14638/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person with a master's degree and a higher diploma in further education is considered to be a teacher. [14639/18]

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I refer to programme A, first, second and early years education, on the current side. I do not want to delay the meeting but I do have some questions. I acknowledge that contained within that are the commitments in the confidence and supply agreement in respect of the pupil-teacher ratio and guidance counsellors. It is welcome that the pupil-teacher ratio will drop to 26:1 at primary level...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: May I query some of the points the Minister made?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Minister set out clearly his view on the equalisation of teacher pay scales and whether he supports the principle of equal pay scales for teachers? He should indicate whether he will make such a statement at the teacher conferences next week. There has been enough talk about this issue. The parties in the Dáil, except for Fine Gael, are united on this. What the unions or,...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I would like to add to that briefly. Some time ago, I tabled a parliamentary question on the subject of section 29 appeals in respect of expulsion, suspension or admission. The figures I received in reply, which are on the record of the Dáil, show that children with special needs are disproportionately more likely to be users of the section 29 system. It is utterly disproportionate....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister cannot blame the unions.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: It was certainly prioritised by the teachers' unions.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I am shocked the Minister has decided to blame the trade unions. It is fair enough to throw Fianna Fáil into it. We were in government up to 2011. We fought an election against the Minister under sustained criticism by him at the time. We are seven years on from that.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Seven years on from that, the Minister turns around to blame the trade unions. It is just extraordinary. The comment should be withdrawn by the Minister. A Government decision is required, not a decision by the trade unions. The teachers' unions rejected the pay agreement at the time. Perhaps the Minister will give us more details on those pay talks, to which I am not privy, and the...