Results 7,701-7,720 of 9,832 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: We were shocked into silence by what the Taoiseach said yesterday.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The Taoiseach should look at services in his own constituency. They are not even open yet.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Where are the schools?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will conduct a review of the costs of school building projects in view of the rapid increase in the cost per square metre of school construction projects in the context of a reduced capital budget in education; his plans to ensure that value is achieved; and if increases in cost have led to delays in tendering under the school building...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: For the past year or more, I have had serious concerns about the Department of Education and Skills's capital budget ranging from the number of major projects currently out to tender, which is at a record low, to the cost of each school place increasing by 50% and the number of school places being delivered decreasing. It is clear that the education budget is not providing the same outputs...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister should not insult the intelligence of the Dáil by saying that the capital budget is ring-fenced. At the first opportunity, he cut it. At the very first fence on the racecourse, he fell and let education down by agreeing a cut in the capital budget. I want to know how that happened and how the Minister plans to deliver school buildings. The figure for the capital budget...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to see that the Department of Education and Skills is not the only organisation buying above the guide price. Unfortunately, the Department has paid as much as double the guide price several times. That is my problem with this. The Minister has admitted that the budget has decreased by €2 million, but the overall capital budget has decreased by €19 million. During...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to ensure each child with a special need has a school place in the 2019-20 school year; and if he will report on the planning under way for special education places in September 2020. [42700/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Some of my constituents have contacted me since I asked the first question. I am pleased they are watching proceedings here, but they are also very concerned about the issues raised this morning with regard to the Government's plans for capital spending. My question is to ask the Minister his plans to ensure that each child with special educational needs has a place in school next...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I acknowledge what the Minister says about Dublin 15. I ask him to confirm that all of those classes and schools are open. He and his Department seem to be under a misapprehension regarding the purpose of the legislation, which gives the power to force classes to open. That is not a tool to plan school places. It is there for a small number of recalcitrant schools that refuse to do their...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: If it was 17 August, it might be appropriate to state that training is being done, that everything is being made ready and that the parents want everything to be right. The latter is something I do not doubt. However, it is 17 October, weeks into the school year, and the Minister is happy to keep telling us about all of this work being done in, I remind the House, the Taoiseach's...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I thank Deputy Burton for raising this matter. I have a question further down the list of questions about the matter because I do not know if this also applies to other colleges around the country. The roadblock to which the Minister referred is not in LMETB. The roadblock is a letter that his Department issued on 3 October baldly stating that the Department is not prepared to consider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I am asking the Minister to consider the matter further when his Department has said it will not.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2020 (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the reduction of the capital budget in budget 2020 for his Department. [42524/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Colleges (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if works on permanent places for all colleges of further education have been ceased in 2019 pending the completion of a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42525/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 31. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he is taking for September 2020 to address unmet demand for school places for children with special needs. [42527/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce history as a core subject on the junior cycle. [42526/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Global Rankings (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop a strategy to address the falling university rankings. [42528/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of implementing the National Council for Special Education’s policy advice on educational provision for children with autism spectrum disorders recommendation to extend the enhanced level of capitation grant to post-primary schools with special classes on the same basis as primary schools; and if he will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Oct 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the recommendations of the National Council for Special Education’s policy advice on educational provision for children with autism spectrum disorders which have not yet been implemented; the timescale for implementation of these measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42642/19]