Results 4,561-4,580 of 5,762 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2017: First Stage (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Sometimes the biggest inequality is that, by accident of birth, a child, young person or older person can be judged according to his or her address or socio-economic status. I am happy to work with Deputy O'Callaghan on this Bill to try to ensure that every child, young person and older person has as equal an opportunity to access employment and services as anybody else.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode as they interfere with the sound system, make it difficult for parliamentary reporters to report and could adversely affect website streaming. I welcome the witnesses. The purpose of this part of the meeting is to discuss with a number of stakeholders the adequacy of training and supports available...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Dr. Ryan. Does Dr. Mehigan wish to speak at this point?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is perfect. I invite Ms Breda Corr to make her opening remarks.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Corr. Her contribution was very valuable. I will ask Ms Noreen Duggan, principal of Scoil na Naomh Uilig to take the floor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Duggan. It is important that all members have the opportunity to hear from those on the ground working with students on a day-to-day basis. If members want to see inclusivity in action, they will find that Scoil na Naomh Uilig is really a great school to visit. I call on Ms Pauline Dempsey, the principal of St. Anne's School in the Curragh.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Dempsey. There will be an opportunity for questions afterwards. I ask Ms Teresa Griffin, the CEO of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Griffin and ask Professor Áine Hyland to give her presentation.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Professor Hyland for that. She is a very welcome addition to the board of Tusla. We have been querying the division in responsibilities. It does not make sense to us. I have put down parliamentary questions on it myself. At least with someone like Professor Hyland on the board, we might make a little headway.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Professor Hyland referred to the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which we will be going through this time tomorrow. There are 45 pages of amendments at this point. It is something the committee feels very strongly about, which is why one of the main recommendations in our report was that the NCSE should be able to make those recommendations. The school should then get the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the witnesses for their contributions. It has been incredibly interesting. There has been a great deal of common ground in the views expressed, namely that there is a need for more teachers, a need for more appropriately trained teachers and the need for proper resources to support our pupils. The main point in the mission statement of the Department of Education and Skills is on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Senator Ruane. As she stated, it takes a village to rear a child.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank the Senator. I will add a few comments. The delegates can certainly take the opportunity to answer, but, if they wish, they may also take some time to reflect and look for more information and provide us with a written answer at a future stage. The clerk and I will ensure any follow-up information is circulated to committee members. I thank everybody for the incredible debate we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Dr. Ryan for her comments.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms Corr. That is fine. It is interesting Ms Corr mentions capitation. A number of members have. We will deal with that at one level tomorrow when we look at the legislation because it is being recommended that schools do not have any enrolment fee. We would certainly agree with that but it essentially would mean that capitation should go up 30% because schools cannot be left with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is a big issue for small schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is also a big issue for large schools. I only discovered recently in my own constituency that schools of over 500 pupils are not getting a capitation fee for any child over the 500. There was one school in Kilcullen with 660 pupils but it is not getting a capitation fee for the extra 160 pupils. It is not as if that amount of money is going to help support a smaller school. There is an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I will let Ms Dempsey in next.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Dr. Nic Craith wishes to come in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Training and Supports for Providers of Special Needs Education and Education in DEIS Schools: Discussion (27 Jun 2017)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Does anyone else wish to comment?