Results 121-140 of 7,314 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the committee, the secretariat and the Chair for facilitating this meeting. I also thank Deputy Cummins for proposing it. I thank the witnesses for being here. It strikes me that there is a fundamental issue at stake in terms of the design and mix of our special education system. My concern, and what I hear from the witnesses, is that we have the potential to both lose and fail...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What about the suggestion that we would have special classes? I know we do not have them and that we are losing them rather than increasing the number, but is there an argument that special classes might be an appropriate forum?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I presume what the witnesses are urgently looking for is engagement on this issue. Do they get any succour from the Minister? It was stated at a previous meeting that there will not be a change in September.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Ms O'Neill wants to see that happen.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Haran.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Browne.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Proposed Redesignation of Schools for Children with Mild General Learning Disabilities: Principals of Special Schools (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: This is more a comment than a question. For me, something quite fundamental is at stake here. I refer to the mix of our education system and accessibility for children differentiated based on their needs. That is a fundamental piece and I will be very happy to work with the witnesses. We have identified this, in fairness to the committee. We will pursue it and work with the witnesses to...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 316. To ask the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric wards or units there are in Meath. [38328/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 317. To ask the Minister for Health the number of psychiatric wards or units there are in Leinster. [38329/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Mental Health Services (10 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 318. To ask the Minister for Health the number of new psychiatric wards or units opening in County Meath within the next five years. [38330/25]

All-Island Strategic Rail Review: Statements (Resumed) (9 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on the all-island strategic rail review. It is an important piece of work. Anyone who looks at the old maps of the railway lines compared to today knows there is a significant job of work to fill the gaps. There are lots of gaps, such as the west and the north-west, but I wish to focus on my area. It is important and I welcome that we have DART+ West at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (9 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a new school building project (details supplied); if tenders have been assessed and awarded; if so, to whom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38226/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Boards (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the funding cut to apprenticeships in Meath and across the State; his assessment of the practical impact of this cut; the measures he is taking to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37297/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Boards (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is that the case with LMETB or are there specific circumstances in its area? I do not know whether the Minister was going to make a point on that. The figures I have from the service plan for 2025 show further education and training funding was €87 million and that this was revised on foot of a funding letter down to €73.7 million. That is a cut of in the region of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Education and Training Boards (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: It is really important that these courses proceed and that people be allowed to work their way through the system because we need a conveyor belt of graduates in all courses. There was a reference earlier to reflection on how we have ended up in this place. None of the students or apprentices has dropped out of the sky; they have been in the system. Has SOLAS dropped the ball? Did the...

Student Fees: Motion [Private Members] (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister must be completely detached from the reality of the cost-of-living crisis if he thinks it is okay to heap €1,000 on students and families this September. The Barnardos cost-of-living report for 2025 found: One in five families cut back on or went without heating (18%) and electricity (17%) over the past six months. More than two in five families going without or...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 27. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on infrastructure will next meet. [37506/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 8. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on children and education will next meet. [33552/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the establishment of the commission of investigation into historical sex abuse in schools and the appointment of the chair, announced today. I have questions about the methodology, particularly as it relates to sampling and other areas. However, I ask about redress and pursuit of financial accountability. The Minister says that further work is being to examine the matter of...