Results 2,561-2,580 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: The leader of my party said that last November. He said he would go for another budget.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Thank you for your confidence, a Cheann Comhairle. We will work hard to achieve it in the meantime. I had better stay in my leader's favour as well. However, this is a serious issue regarding the completion of the remedial works in the Western Building Systems schools. My question is about their status. The media cycle has moved on from this issue and the media are not covering it....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: It does not sound as if a large number of schools will have remedial works completed by September. I do not fault the Department for this as it made every effort to do what it could when this first came to light, but it is still at the stage of plans. That is worrying because there is no indication when these plans will be executed. Unfortunately, that is a recurring theme with this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: I have a question about the financial situation. Legal actions have been instigated. There were a number a couple of years ago and some were more recent, before Christmas. I do not know if there have been any since. Has any insurer come on record for the defendants? Is the Department in discussions with anybody about this, particularly anybody who has money to fund it, or is the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he will take in 2019 to address the low take-up of apprenticeships by women; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20076/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Cad iad na gníomhaíochtaí atá á ndéanamh ag an Aire chun níos mó ban a mhealladh chun a bheith ina bprintísigh? The question is about the actions the Minister will take to encourage more women to take up apprenticeships. We have an incredibly low rate of approximately 5% of female participation in apprenticeships. The reason is that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: This is the biggest gender imbalance in the entire State, other than the Catholic priesthood. It is incredible that only 5% of apprentices are women. A range of issues arise regarding the low take-up of apprenticeships. One is snobbery. We are all encouraging people to take up apprenticeships. Professor Kathleen Lynch spoke well at the ASTI conference. She said she would not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Apprenticeship Programmes (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: There are areas where the Department has taken action regarding the participation of women in apprenticeships. In fairness to the Minister of State, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, there has been some action, although the effect of it remains to be seen in the higher education sector. Within the higher education sector we have the international programme and awards under the Athena SWAN...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: It goes without saying that school secretaries and caretakers do great work. With all the circulars that the Minister's Department continues to fire at schools on a regular basis, secretaries actually have to take up a huge amount of schools' administrative burden. It is welcome that the Minister's Department will start talks. I would like to know the specifics. Are these talks in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: We have been asking for this and the WRC has mandated it. It has taken a union campaign to implement the terms mandated by the WRC. I have met the Fórsa caretakers and secretaries myself. This needs to end very soon. If a scale like those applied to teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, is not set out, any increase like the one given before will become a ceiling rather than a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for talks to commence with school secretaries; if a date will be set for the commencement of negotiations with representatives of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20075/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: Tá an cheist seo dírithe ar stad na rúnaithe agus na feighlithe sna scoileanna ar fud na tíre seo a bhfuil dhá chóras pá acu, cuid acu ar chonarthaí buan le pinsin agus cuid eile acu ar chonarthaí náid uaireanta. This question concerns the two-tier structure for school secretaries and school caretakers, in particular the fact a very small...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: That is not what the Minister's officials said.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: We did not outsource it to the private sector.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: So are we but the Government cannot deliver it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: It will take another ten years. Then Deputy Ring will be the longest serving Member if it ever goes to Mayo.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when talks will begin with representatives of school secretaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19839/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the position of history at junior cycle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19841/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of remedial works and the completion of external precautionary measures identified as required at 42 schools built by a company (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19838/19]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Expulsions (8 May 2019)

Thomas Byrne: 254. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions he has taken in 2019 to investigate the prevalence of exclusion of pupils from schools for behavioural reasons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18445/19]