Results 1,361-1,380 of 3,652 for speaker:Michael Collins

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Has the HSE looked at investing in Irish laboratories such that they can up their testing capabilities at a fraction of the cost to date?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: For the past number of weeks I have been asking the Taoiseach and the Minister for Health to create a system that provides for quick turnaround testing at our airports and ports to enable our areas to reopen and to ensure citizens are comfortable that people coming here are Covid-19 free. Animal Health Laboratories Limited in Bandon, which I visited recently, can produce results within four...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Testing and Tracing (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Why are doctors and nurses in local clinics and hospitals not able to carry out Covid-19 testing?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank Inclusion Ireland for being with us today. Covid restrictions have had a serious effect on all children but particularly those with special needs. Routine is of paramount importance for children with special needs and the disruption to their supports has caused distress for many children and their families. Many parents fear the lack of schooling during the past four months may...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: On 5 June, the Minister opened the summer provision programme for this year to include children with Down’s syndrome. It looks like there is no distinction between those attending preschool, primary school and post-primary school. Is this the case?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Does Inclusion Ireland have concerns that, over the course of the coming week, the Minister, the officials and the Department will produce guidelines for the summer provision programme which may discriminate against a certain cohort of students with Down’s syndrome and are certainly not in keeping with the declaration made by the Minister on 5 June?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Needs Education: Impact of Covid-19 (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Many feel the summer provision programme proposed by the Department of Education and Skills is becoming more and more difficult every day. Many parents report that even though their child and primary school may be eligible to participate in this programme, they will not be able to avail of the opportunity if schools are not running the programme due to lack of guidelines and teacher and SNA...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests here today. On 5 June the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, opened the summer provision programme for this year to include children with Down's syndrome, making no distinction between those attending preschool, primary school or post-primary school. Will Mr. Tattan explain how, over the course of the following week, the guidelines produced for the summer...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: The summer provision programme proposed by the Department of Education and Skills is leading to more and more confusion every day. Many parents report that even though their child at primary school may be eligible to participate in the programme he or she may not be able to avail of the opportunity as schools are not running the programme due to a lack of guidelines or maybe teacher or SNA...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Is a bus transport service being made available? Deputies have been contacted quite a lot by constituents who worry there is no bus transport being made available for those attending the July provision services.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: The budget for cleaning schools, and especially national schools, is at its best very low. I know this because I am on a school board of management and I see how difficult it is for us to meet annual budgets. Given the current Covid-19 crisis and the need to keep schools meticulously clean from September onwards, will the budget for cleaning schools be increased?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I shall now turn to the emergency works grant budget. Some emergency works may need to be completed because of Covid-19 or just general emergencies. Some schools in west Cork, including Dreeny national school near Skibbereen and Scoil Mhuire na nGrást in Belgooly, need this grant aid scheme. Are these funds affected this year? Is the budget the same as last year or what is the story?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I would appreciate that. It is of vital importance to these schools and to many more out there. I have other questions but they do not relate to the crisis we are in at the moment. Perhaps Mr. Tattan will get his colleagues to contact me on one further query, if he cannot answer now. The calculated grades system, which replaced this year's leaving certificate exams, was the best...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Special Educational Needs: Impact of Covid-19 (Resumed) (25 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I would appreciate that. I thank Mr. Tattan.

Taoiseach a Ainmniú (Atógáil) - Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (27 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Today the majority of the Dáil will vote for Deputy Micheál Martin as Taoiseach of our country. I congratulate Micheál on his appointment. He is an extremely experienced parliamentarian and a Cork man. The joining together of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael in the formation of a Government, which I said for many years would happen as there is simply no difference between each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (30 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: 114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding third-level accommodation fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12740/20]

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I thank our guests for appearing before the committee. SMEs are dotted throughout Ireland but in my constituency of Cork South-West, in particular, they are the life and soul, employing many people in towns and villages. I have had many meetings with representatives of SMEs in recent weeks. Their main concern is that, to reopen their doors quickly, they need grants to be made available...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Start-up businesses have been hit hardest. I spoke last night to the owner of one based in a west Cork town, who, like many others, is facing a massive uphill battle to keep his doors open. He cannot avail of the back-to-work grant because it is based on how his business fared last year. Other than giving the man plenty of sympathy, which people in his position are hearing enough of on the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: Many SMEs are unable to avail of grant aid because it is determined by the rates paid, but many of them are using mobile units or places other than a building where rates apply. Has Mr. Moran any solution to offer to such SMEs or does a solution even exist?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: SME Recovery (30 Jun 2020)

Michael Collins: I have spoken to west Cork small businesses, representatives of which are on the phone day and night at the moment. I represent a constituency where tourism is a significant employer, as it is in other constituencies. Tourism this year has been almost wiped out and a worry hangs over next year. The greatest fear of these businesses is that there is nothing else available to them but to...