Results 1,981-2,000 of 6,188 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Staff (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I also wish to raise something related to our anticipation that a significant number of school children will join our system from Ukraine. Typically, English language support would be allocated in September. Schools will need that much sooner in these circumstances. Will the Minister examine this to see whether additional English language support can be provided? There are schools that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I echo what Deputy Calleary said. It is vitally important that there is good engagement, not just with Bus Éireann but with the private operators on whom we rely enormously. They are under big pressure in the same way as hauliers and others, and it is important that there is engagement and that they get the support and assistance they need. There were improvements to the school...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Minister of State, too, has probably had these conversations with schools. Indeed, I recently saw her engage with the school in County Louth outside Leinster House. In schools that do not have enough SNAs, the SNAs are run from pillar to post, the children feel let down and their parents are frustrated that the children are not getting the supports they need. It harms the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Perhaps it is the NCSE that applies the criteria, but the buck stops with the Minister of State in terms of policy and the terms and conditions and pay of SNAs. They have a significant impact on whether we can get SNAs through the system, that is, whether we can recruit and keep them. She mentioned that in the case of new and developing schools, the allocation has been frozen, but that is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Not these ones.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I did not want to be just briefed. I wanted to play a part. I wanted to help.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is not good enough.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure the equitable distribution of special needs assistants, SNAs, across the school system with particular regard to new and developing schools; and the status of the roll-out of the front-loaded allocation model. [13481/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Regardless of the announcement every year of additional SNAs in each budget, there just never seems to be enough. This is particularly concentrated in particular types of school. There is also the combination of the roll-out of the front-loading model and indeed the freeze on SNA allocation. What this means in particular is that fast-developing schools or new schools are finding it very...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 62. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will report on the roll-out of the expansion of Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS; and if she will meet with Opposition Deputies to provide an update on this expansion. [13480/22]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The announcement regarding DEIS arrived yesterday. It is a very important programme that has cross-party support. It has huge potential to make major differences to many children's lives. I very much welcome the schools that were added to that, including several in my own constituency. Of course, like any process such as this, there will always be schools that missed out and are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I understand that the Minister needs to put these things on the record, but I hope that in her next contribution, she might be able tell us more about the appeals process. As I have said, there will be schools that are disappointed. The other issue is that the appeals process needs to be a bit more dynamic, perhaps, than the existing process. We are dealing with five-year-old...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I hope the Minister can tell us more about that as the process goes on. The Minister also raised the issue of stakeholders. There needs to be a sea change in how the Minister and her Department show co-operation and partnership across the Dáil. We first contacted the Minister on 26 April 2021, which is almost a year ago now, because we wanted to work with her on the new DEIS model....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the extent of forward-planning undertaken by her Department to ensure that all children with special educational needs receive a suitable school place in their local area. [13484/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will establish an expert review group to examine the minimum qualifications of SNAs and issue recommendations on same; if she will delay any contract negotiations until this review has taken place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13482/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 129. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of her long-term plans to ensure canteen and physical infrastructure is provided to all schools across the country. [13485/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for summer provision 2022; the capacity planning that has taken place to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13483/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 159. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of her Department to date on the reform of the leaving certificate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13486/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 276. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the detailed breakdown of Vote 26 subhead A15 across new primary schools, post-primary schools, special schools, school halls, canteen facilities, laboratories and any other relevant information. [13584/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (10 Mar 2022)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new special needs assistants hired since 12 October 2021. [13585/22]