Results 3,001-3,020 of 3,980 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: And were refused SUSI grant on the basis that they could not provide a tenancy agreement. They are never going to be in a position to have a tenancy agreement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: It was grossly unfair. The person had to go through an appeals process that took an inordinate amount of time for something which should have been very clear-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: -----and obvious to the person who was processing the application that this was information that was never going to be available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: As I said, this was an issue of deep unfairness which should never have arisen-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Someone has been investing in some time machines. The current amount, however, is only at 62% of capacity. That has me deeply concerned, as does the 17% drop in enrolments compared to the previous year. When I look at the courses which are provided, there are nine schools in this education and training board, ETB, and only two are providing PLC courses. Nine of these courses are in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: This is a significant gap. What engagement has the Minister or the Department had with ETBs around the provision of the wider body of PLC courses which could be available? This is an area which is involved in the midlands regional transitional programme and there is absolutely scope there for the development of other PLC courses. My first question, therefore, is what engagement has the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Yet there is nothing on the list of current provided courses to do e-vehicles, EV.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Yes, do so please, because as an ETB with nine schools, only two of them are providing PLC courses. Some of the schools in that ETB are in very rural areas where the alternative delivery of education would not exist outside of Mullingar, Longford town or Athlone, which also has the technological university. The options for education would be quite limited. There seems to me to be a very...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Even with regard to the midlands regional task force, I was talking to Ms Lavery recently at one of the IBEC briefings and this is why it seems to me to be so anomalous.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: I thank the Minister.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Yes, they were applying for a SUSI grant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: -----and equated to a chronic waste of time. The final question I wish to put to the Minister relates to Longford and Westmeath Education and Training Board, LWETB. I asked the Minister a parliamentary question last week on the available post leaving certificate, PLC, options. I happen to be a big believer in PLCs which are one of those fundamental pathways for people to go on to various...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (25 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to extend teacher training in the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. [3553/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (25 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 276. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of individuals and couples in Westmeath and Longford who are in State-supported homeless accommodation via their local authority but also on reduced rate of jobseeker's. [3457/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of phasing out public subsidies to private schools. [3738/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing class sizes in primary schools that will bring Ireland into line with our EU counterparts. [3739/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the progress made in relation to guidance counsellors for post primary schools in the context of the public consultation on the national policy group on lifelong guidance. [3933/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 458. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many speech and language therapists are currently working in each health district in Ireland and how many positions are currently vacant; and how current numbers compare with each of the past five years. [3716/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Meetings (31 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of requests for a meeting made to her Department by an organisation (details supplied), by year, in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024; and how many meetings have taken place, in tabular form, per year, for the same period. [4584/24]