Results 81-100 of 7,549 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Official Engagements (25 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 12. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to provide an update on his engagements with a company (details supplied) during their period of examinership; the supports and advice available to workers who will lose their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49708/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Motor Industry (25 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 78. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to support the tyre sales industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49709/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Eligibility (25 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 113. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason widows/widowers who work full-time and are in receipt of a widow's/widower's pension and pay PRSI and all other taxes are not eligible for illness benefit; his plans to change this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49710/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Employment Support Services (25 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 111. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures he is taking to support persons with disabilities into employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49711/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses for being here. There has been a huge amount of consternation in relation to the new guidelines for reviewing SNA allocations. Our guests have articulated the issues well in terms of the narrow timeline but I want to focus on the criteria. What I am hearing from SNAs is that it does not reflect the work they do in the real world. My experience as a constituency TD...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Does Mr. Pike think there is a stricter application of it?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: It is about constraints and rationing-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Yes, the role is much expanded and that is a practical difficulty that I see in many schools, particularly when reviews are under way. I have said it publicly previously that there are major problems with these guidelines. They should be parked and there should be further engagement. We need to have a proper discussion on the actual role of SNAs and rather than rationing and restricting,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not sure I will. The bar has been set high. We heard from Fórsa representatives in the previous session about how they were frustrated with how slowly contract negotiations were going. Why are they going slowly? What are the plans to address that? What are the issues that need to be dealt with? We have touched on a number of them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What timeline might we expect? I appreciate that work is ongoing.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What will come out of that? Ultimately, it is not-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a major issue and difference in terms of the criteria that apply in the context of sanctioning SNAs for schools and the work they are doing in real terms - a lot of preventative work and supporting children in addition to assisting with primary care needs. There is an indication the Department is open to a wider definition of the role. Is that the case? Specifically related to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Recruitment and Retention of Special Needs Assistants: Discussion (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I apologise for interrupting but maybe with the time left to me this might be a helpful way to address it. I am making the case that there is an unmet need in schools at present. Ms Corcoran is saying that the Department is looking at an expanded definition of the role of an SNA. Has any analysis been conducted on what the actual workforce should look like in this State if we introduce an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the proposed changes to driving learner permits (details supplied; if there is evidence that points to the benefit of treating learner drivers who have not passed their test after 7 years as beginners; if the potential cost-implications of this for those on low incomes has been considered; and if he will make a...

School Transport: Statements (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important subject. This year is not just another episode in a long-running saga of Government failure on school transport. This year represents a new low. In addition to the usual annual debacle, never before have we had the situation on such a scale where tickets were issued and routes confirmed but, at the eleventh hour, in some cases the day...

Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025: First Stage (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make provision whereby the Minister for Education shall make regulations governing the implementation of an affordable school uniform policy in schools; and for this purpose, to amend the Education Act 1998. I welcome the opportunity to introduce the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025 along with...

Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025: First Stage (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Children and Young People: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank both witnesses and the Chair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Children and Young People: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I am. I thank the Chair and the witnesses. I have been listening in. I have a question for Mr. McWeeney and for Ms Lynch from the National Parents Council. Picking up on the piece on AI in education, Fionn gave an example in terms of how he uses AI for cramming before exams. There are some concerns with the leaving certificate reform that people will not use it just for studying...