Results 2,281-2,300 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The more I look at the document that is written, it does not look like the type of document that normally emanates from the Department of Education and Skills. That may be because it emanated from Tusla but it does not look like a circular the Department would issue. I say that without disrespect to anybody. It does not appear to be written with the same level of precision one normally...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Noel Kelly. He was superb. He was very clear that this was a suspension or an expulsion where these reduced timetables were being brought in in an unorthodox fashion. It would be useful for the document to remind school authorities of that also. There is also a section 5 on this about supports available to schools. I am not sure it is required to have a plug for the Department of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: -----this is an important issue and we have to get it right. If a private meeting with the officials is available, I would welcome that in order to discuss this. I hope that would be of help and that it would not be an inconvenience to the Department.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Interim Report on Reduced Timetables: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: This is very important for children with special needs. I agree with Deputy Jan O'Sullivan that there should be a middle ground. The only reason I wanted to mention this in terms of a suspension or expulsion was that it prods people into acting because it highlights how serious this is. If this is done incorrectly, a child will be suspended or expelled and that is a whole different ball...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: WorldSkills Competition 2019: Discussion (24 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I thank everybody for coming in. I reiterate the congratulations that everyone here has expressed to the participants for their participation, their representing the country and their achievements at the world games in becoming world leaders in their particular fields, and that is the way they have to look at it. Part of their being here is recognition for that. The Minister quite rightly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: WorldSkills Competition 2019: Discussion (24 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I have another parliamentary party meeting to attend now. Can we postpone the next part of the meeting?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister for Education and Skills made some ten exceptions this year on school transport, including one in my constituency for which I lobbied. The problem is, however, that there are other people in my constituency who could not avail of these exceptions. Their applications had failed last year and they did not know they should apply for the exception. I have discussed this matter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (19 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the cost of audits for schools will be reviewed with a view to reducing the burden of costs for small schools with a low number of transactions. [38119/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (19 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the cost of an audit for a school can absorb a large portion of capitation for a small school; if his Department monitors the cost of financial audits for small schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38120/19]

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister should tell that to the kids sitting at home.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: My colleague, Deputy Micheál Martin, raised last night the issue of the "Prime Time" programme on the twins in the Milne-Bolger family. The family's horrific experience is shared right across the country. We have all heard such stories many times. The family spoke about home tuition and Deputy Martin spoke specifically about that case. Notwithstanding the fact that home tuition...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: It was way too late in the year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: That is because the Minister did it during the summer holidays.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Why are there more being taught at home?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications outstanding for home tuition grants as at 13 September 2019. [37773/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received to date for the 2019/2020 school term for home tuition grants. [37774/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 119. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which home tuition will commence in September 2019; the number of children who will receive home tuition in September 2019; the number of teachers who are in place to provide same; the number of vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37885/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount spent in 2018 on a company (details supplied) by legal fees, other professional and consultancy fees and other costs including construction and renovations in tabular form. [37776/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Homelessness Strategy (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not provided guidelines to schools in the way in which to deal with and be of help to school pupils and their families who are homeless. [37790/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (18 Sep 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has not provided the needed number of school places for children with special needs at the beginning of this academic year. [37791/19]