Results 3,721-3,740 of 5,839 for speaker:Fiona O'Loughlin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta: Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Is é cuspóir na coda seo den chruinniú ná plé a dhéanamh leis an Uasal Dónal Ó hAiniféin sula ndéanfar é a cheapadh ina chathaoirleach ar an gComhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta. Tugtar deis don choiste labhairt leis an Uasal Ó hAiniféin faoin bhfís atá aige, faoi na tosaíochtaí...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta: Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is a good point. Are there any supplementary questions?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta: Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We had an engagement about 18 months ago on island schools and some of the particular challenges that they face. We made a number of recommendations to the Minister and, thankfully, some of them were taken on board. The issue of science subjects particularly and the teaching of them through Irish seems to be a challenge. I know that the Minister visited some of the island schools to see a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta: Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Mr. Ó hAiniféin. It has been very interesting and enlightening to listen to him. I have no doubt that he has a great passion for what he does, and he brings that to the job in hand. We as a committee will be notifying the Minister that we have engaged with Mr. Ó hAiniféin, and on behalf of the committee, I thank him and wish him well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta: Cathaoirleach Ainmnithe (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Go raibh maith agat. I propose that we suspend now for a few minutes to allow the witnesses for our next session to take their seats and to allow Mr. Ó hAiniféin to withdraw.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound system, causing difficulties for parliamentary reporters, and television coverage and web streaming can be impacted as well. Will the Deputies and Senators please resume their seats? We are moving to No. 6 on our agenda, which is engagement with stakeholders on the status of non-teaching staff...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I thank Ms White and call Mr. Paul Fiorentini, the president of the ACCS.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I call Mr. David Duffy from the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I call on Mr. Andy Pike, Fórsa, to make his opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I call on Ms Breda Lynch of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland, ASTI, to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I invite Ms Tara Carton, principal officer in the Department of Education and Skills, to make her opening statement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Thank you. It is clear from the evidence we have heard that non-teaching staff undoubtedly play a vital role in the workings of a school. I believe secretaries and caretakers are the heartbeat of the school. They have an essential and particular relationship not just with the teaching staff but also with parents and the children. I will call members for their questions. Deputy Jan...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: I have one or two points to make. Deputy McLoughlin referred to the fact that the ancillary grant is capped at €500. There are large schools with 700 or more students. I cannot understand how the Department would think that the grant should be capped at €500 per child because, obviously, there are extra needs, many more classrooms, many more spaces that need to be looked...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is the same point I was making about the ancillary grant stopping at 500 pupils in a school.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Last week. That is good. We will come back to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. If Ms Lynch does not wish to comment, I call Mr. Pike.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: It is a good point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: We will go back to the members. I call Deputy Naughton.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: There are some specific questions there for Ms Carton, Mr. Pike and Mr. Duffy. I would also like to ask Ms Carton if the Department has any responsibility or oversight in respect of staff who are in the schools but whom it does not pay directly. If not, who has that responsibility or oversight? Does it rest purely with the boards of management? I will ask Ms Carton to respond to those...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Status of Non-Teaching Staff in Schools: Discussion (9 Apr 2019)

Fiona O'Loughlin: Many of those issues also need to be considered by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform; it will go beyond the Department of Education and Skills.