Results 2,701-2,720 of 6,188 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Education (Leaving Certificate 2021) (Accredited Grades) Bill 2021: Second Stage (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We are debating this legislation primarily because of the campaigning voice of leaving certificate students. They have been through a difficult two years, having lost out on months of in-school learning, with profound uncertainty and stress about what was going to happen. It appeared until earlier this spring that they were facing a system telling them that a traditional leaving certificate...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: A couple of matters arise. The first concerns timescales and when we are going to see some of that work come back because we cannot have it going into the never-never. The second is more a question of principles. Schools are at liberty to teach in this way when there is no objective sexual education curriculum. Where it is the view or the ethos of the school that a relationship should be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The Minister has partially answered one question but she has not answered the others. Many parents are alarmed at the content of some of the religious-based RSE programmes being introduced in schools. We can talk about parental choice but the reality, particularly at primary level, is that many parents do not really have a choice. The vast majority - nine out of every ten - national...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the current position that the religious ethos of a school can impact the relationships and sexuality education, RSE, curriculum being taught in that school; and the legislative changes she will make to ensure the RSE programme is uniform, age appropriate and fully inclusive across all schools. [25043/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: RSE is vitally important. It is also vitally important that we get it right, because if we do not then we risk our children growing into adults who potentially have a feeling of being othered, a disfigured or unhealthy understanding of sexuality and a feeling of exclusion and discomfort within the educational setting. The Minister will be aware that there is a significant amount of concern...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she has taken to remove disincentives for staff volunteering to facilitate the summer provision and DEIS summer programmes. [25042/21]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: It is widely acknowledged that the children who lost out most during lockdown were those with special educational needs and those in situations of disadvantage. I and Sinn Féin called for the largest ever programme of summer provision and for the DEIS summer camps to be extended beyond DEIS schools. I welcome the fact that significant funding has been announced and there is a wider...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We called for an expansion in DEIS and in the summer provision for children with special educational needs. I will not criticise the provision of additional funds because it is what we wanted. However, I am concerned that there is a significant difference between eligibility and the ability to apply and the spaces that will exist. The problem is we are right down to the wire. There was a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: My understanding of the guidance that is there is that it is the broad principles of the programme, rather than the detail that schools need. I will move on to pay-related issues. I will identify three issues and ask the Minister of State to respond to each directly because they are all vitally important. There was a passing reference in Tuesday's announcement to earlier payment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the consultation process to bring more schools into the DEIS model; and the groups which have been involved in this consultation process. [25046/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address the significant inequalities in pay, conditions and pension and other entitlements facing many school secretaries. [25044/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the delivery of a new building for a school (details supplied). [25045/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the issues facing schools, particularly new and developing schools, in securing appropriate SET allocation; and the steps she will take to reform the current allocation model to make it fairer for all schools. [25047/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if clarity will be provided on the allocation of SNAs for the 2021-2022 academic year. [25048/21]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 191. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if learner driving permits that were due to expire were extended given the ongoing Covid-19 restrictions; and if not, if he will consider extending these permits given that many learner drivers have been unable to access driving lessons for a number of months. [25218/21]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 271. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the processing of applications for working holiday authorisations from the USA to Ireland has recommenced; if not, when the processing of such applications will recommence; if applications are currently being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25283/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 321. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the continuation will be assured of the Carlisle and Blake award to teachers in primary schools and or to student teachers on an annual basis; the number of awards and institutions to which the award is made; and the name of all winners of the award from 1964 to date. [25386/21]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 374. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if the processing of applications for student visa permissions for students who wish to commence third-level courses in Ireland in September-October 2021 has recommenced; if not, when the processing of such applications will recommence; if applications are currently being accepted; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (13 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 407. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has considered allowing pharmacists to participate in the national roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations as vaccinators. [25240/21]

Loan Guarantee Schemes Arrangements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021: Second Stage (12 May 2021)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Small and medium-sized enterprises have been hit desperately hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. Across the country, business owners have been put to the pin of their collars. Family businesses, which may have gone down through generations, have had to close their doors because of the pandemic. Many of them may never open up again. It is vitally important that we support as many of them as...