Results 7,481-7,500 of 7,634 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I asked a specific question on the recommendation for additional time that was made in 2009. Does Ms Feeney accept that the decision the SEC made not to act on that specifically has continued to disadvantage children with dyslexia?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is that not exactly the point? It is ethically, morally and politically reprehensible and bankrupt actually not to act on that. Ms Feeney's argument is: "Well, there was a number of recommendations and we had to balance them out and we could not go to the politicians or population and say we are taking 20 minutes off here or taking that the grammar and spelling accommodation off, so what we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The State Examinations Commission has ignored a specific recommendation that would level the playing field. There is significant international evidence to show that even when you give extra time to children with dyslexia and dyscalculia, they do not have an advantage over their peers. In fact, it brings them up to a level. Unfortunately, 15 years later, the SEC is about to look at that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I appreciate that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The SEC has had the lifetime of a child to resolve those issues.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Issues Affecting People with Dyslexia and Dyscalculia: Discussion (2 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The SEC is specifically tasked with dealing with that issue. It is the responsibility of the SEC. In response to my own question, the vast majority of people would say that the SEC's decision not to act on that recommendation has compounded the disadvantage. That is my opinion.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (1 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 102. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to clarify when a person will stop receiving their widow's pension under the Social Welfare (Bereaved Partners and Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025. [52305/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 135. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is aware of service challenges on Bus Éireann routes serving Ashbourne and Ratoath in County Meath; his plans to address these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51160/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if an assessment has been conducted on whether traffic flow can be improved within existing constraints on the N2 between Kilmoon Cross and Rath roundabout, as an alternative to waiting years for a motorway extension to be built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51161/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 312. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to ensure recent changes to the Leap Card scheme eligibility criteria does not exclude students studying English. [52145/25]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 313. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures he is taking to ensure that international students are given access to the student (young adult) Leap Card following recent changes to the scheme. [52146/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 409. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that a fashion competition (details supplied) is now charging schools a fee of €1,000 euro to enter, despite this being free in previous years, due to insufficient Government funding; and the measures she is taking to ensure that schools are not faced with this fee for the coming year, ensuring that costs will not be a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 409. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that a fashion competition (details supplied) is now charging schools a fee of €1,000 euro to enter, despite this being free in previous years, due to insufficient Government funding; and the measures she is taking to ensure that schools are not faced with this fee for the coming year, ensuring that costs will not be a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 474. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the construction of a new school building (details supplied), and when it is expected to be completed and opened to students. [51622/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the construction or opening of a new school building (details supplied) is delayed, the measures that will be put in place for children enrolled in that class to ensure that they are provided with an appropriate education. [51623/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 492. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the SNA Workforce Plan; the date on which it will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51808/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 518. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if school bus escorts hours are being reduced across the State, and if so, the reason. [52096/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 519. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is her view that bus escorts should not be paid until the moment a child first steps on the bus, which fails to account for work done by bus escorts before and after children get on and off the school bus. [52097/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 597. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection why school bus escorts who have to sign on during school holidays have faced delays of up to five weeks to receive their payment; and the measures he is taking to ensure this does not occur again at future holiday periods. [52078/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (30 Sep 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 958. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is aware that Youthreach have had their budget cut by 30 percent (details supplied) affecting their ability to provide an education and support to 50 students, counselling services have been reduced from four days to one day every second week which is having a negative effect on young people availing of the service' mental health; if he...