Results 16,021-16,040 of 17,012 for speaker:Paul Kehoe

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: On that, will Mr. Loftus make sure that a full response in regard to that school is sent to the clerk, who can forward it on to Deputy Nolan?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: I have a couple of questions myself before I bring in the other speakers. On 4 July we had the Holy Family School for the Deaf in Cabra, Dublin 7 before the committee. Mr. Kelly and Ms Mannion were here that day as well. The issue of the school's new building was raised. Will Mr. Loftus give us an update? Mr. Kelly tried to give us an update on July 4 but he did not have the specifics so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: I thank Mr. Loftus for that. What is the Department's general policy on the rental of school buildings to accommodate students in a school setting? Is it a case of building a new school?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: I have tabled two parliamentary questions on the proposed new school building for Meánscoil Gharman, Enniscorthy, County Wexford . I have been approached by a group of parents on this issue. The school is renting at present and a site has been identified, but some of the parents want confirmation that the new school building will be going ahead. What is the plan for that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: Would building a new school not offer more value to the taxpayer?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: What intrigues me is that the Department, with Wexford County Council, has identified a new school site. According to responses to parliamentary questions I have tabled, the work is progressing, but now I am being told it might not be.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: When do you expect a decision to be made on that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: On the solar panels, it is beyond me that progress cannot be made. Thousands of schools throughout the country, both primary and post-primary, could be harvesting energy. What is the delay? This was announced quite some time ago by both Ministers. At the time both said this would be happening here and now, yet still nothing is happening.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: Okay. I have two final questions. I am moving to special education and Ms Mannion may wish to take it. St. Patrick's School in Enniscorthy was completed. It is an absolutely fantastic building. The officials are probably aware the school is now renting space off the Gaelscoil next door. Pupils are coming from the borders with Waterford, Kilkenny, Carlow and the middle Wicklow area....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: I understand that. There is no doubt that St. Patrick's Special School, as it is a new building, is a magnet to other regions. It is unfortunate that children with special needs are on a bus for transport for an hour and a half in the morning and an hour and a half in the evening. The Department is getting there but I wondered about the risk or reason for it. I do not want a direct...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: We have three non-committee members, Deputies Costello, Whitmore and Dillon. I will give them three minutes each, and then Deputy Clarke will want to come back in again.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: I have to go to a meeting of committee chairpersons, so I propose that Deputy Clarke take the Chair.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Current and Future Plans of the School Building Unit: Department of Education (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: Before I leave, I thank the witnesses, in particular Ms Mannion and Mr. Kelly, whom we put on the spot when they last appeared before the committee regarding Holy Family School for the Deaf.

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Conservation (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: 153. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if there are plans to re-introduce a grant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42358/23]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: 291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address teacher shortages in secondary schools by allowing teachers who are working 22 hours in a school and who could work in another school on their half day, to do so, and therefore extend the ability to work up to 35 extra hours in the year, not just in one’s own school, but in others too; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: 299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether she is considering providing free schoolbooks for secondary school students, for the upcoming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42279/23]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: 400. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a letter of confirmation of the QAA increase will be sent to a person (details supplied); when will arrears issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42182/23]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: 466. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that under the deer tree shelter, hare and deer fencing scheme that alder is eligible as an additional broadleaf, ADB (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42164/23]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services (3 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: 516. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the pathway for an 18-year-old who is still in secondary school to access assessments for ADHD/ADD in Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42177/23]

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (4 Oct 2023)

Paul Kehoe: The Irish tillage sector has faced devastation with the terrible weather conditions, earlier on in sowing and now in harvesting. In County Wexford alone, there are more than 2,500 acres still left to be harvested. With reduced yields and reduced grain prices, the sector is facing devastation. In all honesty, I cannot welcome the Minister, Deputy McConalogue's announcement yesterday where...