Results 241-260 of 7,087 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Delivering a World-Class Education System: Statements (22 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the statements on education. Education is the great equaliser: it has the power to break down barriers, lift communities and, most importantly, to give every child the opportunity to reach their full potential. However, for too long, our education system has been held back by chronic underfunding, inequality and a lack of ambition or vision for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (22 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 29. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on plans to deliver a permanent building for Dunboyne College of Further Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25738/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (22 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to reduce costs for third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25739/25]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (22 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 82. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail the funding provided to County Meath in 2024 and to date in 2025; the schedule of funding calls for 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25740/25]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (22 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 114. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail the funding provided to Meath County Council for the local improvement scheme in each of the past five years; if he has plans to increase this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25741/25]

Biodiversity Week: Statements (21 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: We are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, one which threatens ecosystems, food security and our way of life. The facts are stark. Ireland ranks as one of the worst countries in Europe for biodiversity loss. More than 30% of our bee species are at risk of extinction. Wetlands, which are vital for carbon storage and flood prevention, have declined by 90% in the past century. Despite...

Gaza: Statements (21 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Right-thinking people are horrified at what they are seeing in Gaza. It is difficult to comprehend the barbarity. It is even more difficult to see it on your TV screen. Right-thinking people are ashamed of their leaders, many of whom are standing idly by as we see the intentional destruction of healthcare by Israel, the obstruction of medical supplies and humanitarian aid, the slaughter of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (21 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: School secretaries and caretakers play a vital role. They are the glue that holds our schools together. Despite this, they are denied pension parity and, in the case of caretakers, pay justice. Teresa Cassidy is one such example. Teresa has been the school secretary in Gaelscoil na Rithe in Dunshaughlin, County Meath for 27 years. When she spoke to the Meath Chronicle in recent weeks she...

Committee on Education and Youth: Business of Joint Committee (21 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I congratulate the Chair on his appointment. The Chair and I were members of committees in the previous Dáil term. For those new to committee work, in my experience, it is a good opportunity to dig deep into issues and work collectively on them, which is nice. There are a few important areas on which I want to focus, the first of which has already been mentioned, that being, special...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (21 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 87. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to provide an update on the reasonable accommodation fund and disability awareness scheme. [26251/25]

Assessment of Need: Statements (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: To follow on from that point, in respect of my county, Meath, and the lack of capacity in the system, in CDNT 2 covering the Kells area, and CDNT 5 covering the Navan and Slane area, one in four posts is vacant. Those are the best figures. In CDNT 4, covering the Ashbourne and Dunshaughlin area, one in three posts is vacant. In CDNT 6, covering the Trim area, which Deputy Dempsey...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tillage Sector (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 154. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports in place for tillage farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25729/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Prices (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 166. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he plans to tackle the high cost of beef; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25730/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Facilities (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 450. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of childcare and early years education centres which are being asked to move location, in order to facilitate special classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25480/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 470. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will respond to concerns raised by school principals who report that although their schools meet the criteria for additional SNA support they are being informed that no allocation can be made due to a cap on available posts; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25662/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 471. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify whether it is current practice that SNA allocations can only be granted to some schools if they are first removed from others in the same area, as reported by principals; if so, how this aligns with the principle of meeting individual pupil needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25663/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 472. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide more detail on how the NCSE's review process is carried out and how schools and families can appeal decisions if they believe a reduction in SNA support is inappropriate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25664/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 473. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills , further to Parliamentary Question 62 of 30 April, if she will clarify how many of the SNA posts have already been allocated; the number of the 1,600 SNAs not allocated to newly sanctioned classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25665/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 488. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the ICT grant for schools; and when it is going to be paid. [25868/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 May 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 489. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the school works programme; and when it is going to be paid. [25869/25]