Results 4,221-4,240 of 9,823 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 5. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address concerns that the school transport scheme is not being run on an efficient basis, especially with regard to route selection criteria and criteria for providing a service to students wishing to avail of the scheme on a concessionary basis. [18466/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: School transport is an issue of major concern. My difficulty is there are three different positions on the scheme within the Department. These are outlined in a ministerial briefing, the programme for Government and by a press officer following a major story in the Irish Independent. There is huge confusion among the public. A number of my colleagues, including Deputy Calleary, have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister of State's answer has not provided any clarity to anybody. I would like him to clarify what is the position. Will students who have concessionary places lose out this September because of the review, or can he give a guarantee to this House that no students with concessionary places will lose out because of the review by his Department, that their place will be available on a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Transport Administration (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I want to clarify with the Minister of State that no students, regardless of their having concessionary places or otherwise, will lose their place on a school bus this September; that they are guaranteed their place on a school bus this September.

Other Questions: Teachers' Remuneration (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Notwithstanding the fact that this matter is officially under the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Department of Education and Skills is one of the key Departments affected by it. Throughout the recession, young teachers were employed because we needed teachers whereas staff were not taken on in other areas of the public service. A large cohort of young teachers have been in...

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to set out the status regarding the achievement of a permanent site for a school, details supplied. [18242/16]

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister will forgive me because I have tabled two questions with details supplied. I gather this one relates to St. Peter's national school in Dunboyne, which is a Church of Ireland school. It is the first since the foundation of the State to be established. It is an important school but there is no permanent site. I know the Minister is aware of it. At this stage there are not many...

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Minister give a timeframe? How long will this process be? How long will it take? We have all been aware of the process at local level. We are keen for this to be done as soon as possible. Certainly, I have no wish to interfere in the commercial side of the Department or put pressure there. In situations such as this and others that will arise as we need to build more schools in...

Other Questions: School Accommodation Provision (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I would be slightly concerned about the Minister's reference to the Department's model clicking in when children are born. I presume there is an earlier process because, obviously, once houses are planned and estates developed, one can assume the houses will be filled to some extent with children.

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: I thank the Labour Party for introducing this Bill. It seems that, if we have proper consultation on this issue, it will be possible to reach a consensus in the Dáil. However, I do not see that consensus yet. For my part, that is primarily because I have not been able to meet all the interested parties. I have met some impressive lobby groups that made good cases in seeking the...

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: We could change things but it would be better to opt for pre-legislative scrutiny before engaging in line-by-line scrutiny. Line-by-line scrutiny is pedantic; it is about words and their meaning. The issues are too big to be dealt with simply by addressing definitions. We really need to examine broader issues such as catchment and ethos. We should explore on the public record why this...

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: On the period of 12 months-----

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: That is what is being presented here. We have not amended it. I am outlining to this Dáil the commitment of the Fianna Fáil Party to moving forward on this as quickly as possible. We want this addressed and we know it needs to be addressed. It will be addressed. We will not let it slide to the end of the 12-month period. We believe it can be dealt with before then. If this...

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: The Labour Party could go over the 2015 Bill.

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: If it passes Second Stage the ten-week provision comes into play, and that is too short.

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: It was passed.

Equal Status (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Second Stage [Private Members] (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: Fianna Fáil brought it in.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Programmes (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 19. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reform the literacy and numeracy strategy; his views on the gap that exists in literacy and in numeracy between advantaged and disadvantaged schools; his plans for new standardised testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18282/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 33. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of funding for the building of a school (details supplied). [18241/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 Jun 2016)

Thomas Byrne: 39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of negotiations with the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland regarding the outstanding dispute over reform of the junior education cycle; to address concerns by students and parents that students in schools staffed by members of the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland will lose 10% in English examinations in 2017...