Results 561-580 of 935 for speaker:Mary Moran

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Summer Works Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State for facilitating this Adjournment debate. I had received representations from the school in question in County Louth before the second round of summer works scheme funding was announced. While I welcome the announcement of the funding, particularly for schools in County Louth that have received it, I am disappointed that schools as far down as category 10 that...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Summer Works Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I am grateful that the application will be retained and prioritised for consideration under further rounds of the summer works scheme. It is important at times such as this when schools are vying for pupils and, perhaps, competing with brand new schools in similar areas that older schools are maintained to the highest possible level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the representatives from the Department of Education and Skills. As a former teacher, as many of us are, I cannot but welcome the changes which will be initiated from September. I understand much of the concern raised by the unions. We all received letters from the ASTI prior to this meeting raising concerns. The Minister has addressed some of them. One of the big issues is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: That comes from the address from the ASTI. It is arguing that point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: Sometimes the best teachers do not.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister for clarifying that point. I asked a question about more CPD and what will be in place before September. That was not addressed. The headline in an NAPD press statement issued in 2012 read: "Let us be more courageous in our moves to reform Junior Cert". It is talking about teaching students to learn rather than teaching students to pass examinations and that needs to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: One cannot but what it is saying is that there needs to be a new focus. What we need is critical thinking rather than rote learning, which was going on in my house last night. I listened to French conversations being learned off because it is presumed they will be asked. It is the same with Irish where there are so many picture stories, one of which will definitely come up in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: The Minister has already indicated that he is willing to engage.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: We need to seek to encourage more men.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: Of the men who go into primary school teaching, 80% go on to become principals.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: The Minister spoke about higher-level maths. While I might be somewhat biased, I believe the person going into primary school teaching with music skills, the person who is able to communicate with the child or the person with the sports skills will be considerably more beneficial than someone going in with higher-level maths.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Implementation of Junior Cycle Student Award: Minister for Education and Skills (13 May 2014)

Mary Moran: With the project maths and the extra 25 points it might encourage people.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Provision (14 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, for coming to the House. Our interactions are almost a daily occurrence at this stage. I recently received representations from the staff at Drogheda Community Training Centre, following a letter they received on Friday regarding the withdrawal of funds by SOLAS from May 2015. This news came as a shock to the staff in the training centre....

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Provision (14 May 2014)

Mary Moran: If I understand the Minister of State correctly, this decision is based on the review of the learning outcomes and a cost benefit analysis. Will all of the students who are currently attending the centre move to other centres or finish their courses in Drogheda? Can the Minister of State guarantee that?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Provision (14 May 2014)

Mary Moran: Will the students have the same access to courses?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Provision (14 May 2014)

Mary Moran: What will happen to the staff of Drogheda Community Training Centre?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Education and Training Provision (14 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: Order of Business (15 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I welcome the announcement on Tuesday by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, of funding of €5 million for a new centralised Special Olympics Ireland facility at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown. The new centralised headquarters will bring together the Dublin, Leinster and eastern region of Special Olympics Ireland offices. I have been...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and formally congratulate her on her appointment as Minister for Justice and Equality. I look forward to working with her in her new role. This Bill is very important and will greatly aid the Garda in its already sophisticated and important work. A Bill such as this has been a long time in coming and I believe there have been three previous...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Carer's Allowance Eligibility (27 May 2014)

Mary Moran: I thank the Minister of State for dealing with this Adjournment matter and hope he will relay the points I make to the Minister for Social Protection.