Results 1,481-1,500 of 6,816 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask Minister for Education how she will address the long-standing shortage of school transport places across the State, if she is engaged in capacity planning, and her views on whether it will be possible that each child who wants a place in the bus will receive one.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Each year parents are faced with the same problems, when it comes to the school bus transport scheme. It is fair to say the scheme is popular, but it is over-subscribed. The question arises in terms of who is eligible and who is excluded. I would like to know the Minister's assessment of those who are excluded. What percentage of people are on concessionary tickets? What number of people...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The scale of the ambition is not nearly where it needs to be. In the last 20 years, we have seen a 6% decrease in the number of people who avail of school bus transport, and a 31% increase in the number of children travelling to school by car. That is inconsistent with where we need to be going in terms of our modal shift. There are many compelling reasons to move people from the private...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I ask the Minister the steps she has taken to achieve pay equality and pension entitlements for school secretaries, in accordance with the commitments given by Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: We are heading into another summer when very many school secretaries will have to go on jobseeker’s allowance again. A commitment in this regard is contained in the programme for Government. This commitment was made by the Minister’s party when it was in opposition and by the Tánaiste last October. I welcome the engagement but school secretaries and their representatives...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. It is important to state there are issues of equality and fairness and regarding the rights of workers. In addition, there are also real issues of potential hardship. Therefore, time is important and of the essence. I reiterate the frustration - and it is frustration - felt by school secretaries and their representatives regarding the rate and speed of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I refer to the digital Covid certificate, which went live across the EU today. Ireland is the only country that was not in compliance with the regulations. We have missed this deadline, although it was not a deadline for us. There are many who are concerned we will miss the deadline of 19 July. We are told we will be emailed our vaccine record but nobody submitted their email address...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 200. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the process for persons to obtain the EU Digital COVID Certificate; if persons will receive their certificate in advance of 19 July 2021; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35633/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Departmental Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 129. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the establishment of the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; the members and objectives of the taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36444/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 130. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he consulted or will consider consulting the OPW to compile a register of State sites and assets that may be suitable for telecommunications infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36445/21]

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Telecommunications Infrastructure (6 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 131. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the implementation of the EU connectivity toolbox; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36446/21]

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Telecommunications Services (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy. I want to raise the growing problem of scam phone calls and text messages, which have become widespread in the past few weeks, as he will no doubt be aware. Fraudsters who claim to be from State agencies, for example, An Garda Síochána and the Department of Social Protection, are pestering people with calls that seek personal and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Telecommunications Services (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State mentioned the need for awareness raising and bringing people's attention to these issues, and that is important. I accept it is complex and involves a number of agencies. I would add there is a possibility this could continue, increase and get worse. It is a frustration and a nuisance outside of anything else. I would encourage those agencies to work together to try...

Post Office Network: Motion [Private Members] (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I move amendment No. 1: (a)To insert the following after “in line with the Cabinet decision in 2017;”: “notes the findings and recommendations contained in the Grant Thornton report entitled ‘Review of the economic contribution and financial sustainability of the Irish Post Office Network’, commissioned by the Irish Postmasters' Union, which recognises...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Waste Management (7 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 26. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are plans to introduce a disability waste waiver to support those living with long-term incontinence for example; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36569/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 241. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications including unsuccessful applications for school bus transport in the 2019-2020 and the 2020-2021 school year, respectively; the number of successful applications categorised by eligible and concessionary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37053/21]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. Ms Embleton referred to PCR tests and called them anti-family. Is it fair to say that she sees the requirement for PCR testing as a deterrent to international travel? Does she have an assessment or indication of international comparison in terms of the potential impact of the PCR requirement?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: There is no specific assessment. I assume it is difficult to assess the impact of PCR tests versus antigen tests, so I will move on. Ms Embleton mentioned the support from ISIF. I notice she said that it is on commercial terms and that it must be repaid with interest. Has Aer Lingus made a request to the Government that the Government has not met? We hear repeatedly from the Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Issues facing the Aviation Industry: Discussion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: There is real concern among workers in the sector and in Aer Lingus that, notwithstanding the real and acknowledged difficulties of Covid-19 for the sector and Aer Lingus, there is an element of strategy in this regard. There has been a criticism, and we heard it clearly in this committee, that with regard to Shannon there was no engagement with staff there in the way there might have been...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services Staff (13 Jul 2021)

Darren O'Rourke: 169. To ask the Minister for Health the way in which pay parity claims of medical scientists are being progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19939/21]