Results 7,361-7,380 of 7,634 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 514. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will implement criteria that acknowledges the service of those teaching abroad if they return to Ireland and teach here; and if, the service spent abroad will be recognised on the point scale for teachers salary, rather than being put on point 1 of the scale, disregarding their experience in a different jurisdiction. [48285/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 515. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that teachers who return to Ireland from teaching abroad find that there is no scheme for repaying public sector pension contributions (details supplied); and the steps she will take to review the situation ensuring that teachers returning from abroad have the ability to contribute to their Irish pension. [48286/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 569. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the time-bound provision; and if she will confirm that the provision will open in Q4 of 2025. [48913/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 735. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the steps he is taking to ensure schools affected by companies pulling out of contracts due to procurement criteria in the hot school meal scheme are resolved; and or if he will introduce a temporary measure to ensure these children are catered for. [48053/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 743. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the measures he is taking to ensure that schools affected by food companies pulling out of the hot school meals scheme due to updated procurement criteria, are provided with hot meals; the interim measures in place; and when he expects this issue will be resolved, allowing all schools to avail of the free hot school meal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 737. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the way in which food waste is monitored in the hot school meals scheme; the latest data in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48091/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (17 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 793. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if he is aware that rent supplement is only available to those who work under 30-hours-per-week; and if he plans to expand the criteria to 40-hours-per-week, taking into account that many people who are in need of rent supplement work a full 40-hour week. [49018/25]

Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025: First Stage (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to make provision whereby the Minister for Education shall make regulations governing the implementation of an affordable school uniform policy in schools; and for this purpose, to amend the Education Act 1998. I welcome the opportunity to introduce the Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025 along with...

Education (Affordable School Uniforms) Bill 2025: First Stage (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."

School Transport: Statements (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important subject. This year is not just another episode in a long-running saga of Government failure on school transport. This year represents a new low. In addition to the usual annual debacle, never before have we had the situation on such a scale where tickets were issued and routes confirmed but, at the eleventh hour, in some cases the day...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (25 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: There are widespread concerns in relation to this new set of guidelines for the review of SNA allocations, specifically, the narrowed criteria and rigid timelines. The application window now for school-led reviews is limited for a six-week period from 15 September to 24 October and excludes mid-year needs, and there is the issue of unification and redeployment risks. SNA allocations are now...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Disability Services (25 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I have the guidelines in my hand. They need to be withdrawn, because what the Minister of State has said and what we heard at the committee yesterday from the Department are directly contradicted by what is in the guidelines. The guidelines give rise to real concern because they state: NCSE reviews are conducted on a whole school needs-based analysis, To be clear, this can include...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 14. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale for the proposed changes to driving learner permits (details supplied; if there is evidence that points to the benefit of treating learner drivers who have not passed their test after 7 years as beginners; if the potential cost-implications of this for those on low incomes has been considered; and if he will make a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence: Artificial Intelligence and Children and Young People: Discussion (23 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank both witnesses and the Chair.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 973. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff who work in early intervention classes across the State. [40741/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 974. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of increasing staff in early intervention classes by 5%, up to a maximum of 50%. [40742/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 1194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the number of staff in early intervention classes by 10%; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43035/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 975. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of expanding the home school community liaison scheme by 5%, up to a maximum of 40%, in DEIS urban band one schools. [40743/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (29 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 976. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of expanding the home school community liaison scheme by 5%, up to a maximum of 40%, in DEIS schools. [40744/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (29 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 977. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applicants for the school transport scheme in 2024. [40745/25]