Results 3,121-3,140 of 3,762 for speaker:Pádraig O'Sullivan

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I confirm that I am on site in my office. I welcome the Minister and Minister of State. A review of school transport is under way. CIÉ and Bus Éireann recently opened a portal for the September intake. Is the review likely to be completed in time for September or is it likely to drag on a little?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: Arising from that, more than 15,000 students with special needs have special arrangements for school transport. Will the review cover those students? Will it be a review of the whole education sector, including special education, or will it focus only on mainstream secondary schools?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: Very good. The capitation grant is always a bone of contention, as the distinction made between primary and secondary schools. Are there plans to review current capitation rates at both primary and secondary level? I have tabled parliamentary questions asking why there is a distinction.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I noticed in the list of new builds in Vote 26 and also the breakdown of commitments for special classrooms that more special classrooms are being designated than before and the number of new builds has also increased, which is very welcome. I do not have the figures to hand but last year approximately 70 or 80 units valued in excess of the €1 million threshold were delivered. Does...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: My last question is on the number of students with direct access to National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. The number of children who accessed NEPS services through schools decreased from 8,561 in 2018, which was pre-Covid, to 7,392 in 2019. What was the reason for this decline? What are the figures for 2020? In the event that the trend continued in 2020 and the number of...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I welcome the Ministers and Ministers of State. I have just two or three brief questions. Under Vote 45, there is reference to PhDs funded by Science Foundation Ireland, SFI. The number of designated PhDs has decreased from 237 to 125. The years in question are 2018 and 2019. What was the reason for this decline? Is it as simple as fewer applications due to Covid? Is the impact of...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister. If the matter can be clarified further, I would appreciate it. My second point relates to the trend in the number of people who are studying on a part-time or flexible basis. Judging by these figures, the number increased by approximately 11% or 12% since 2017 and 2018. This is a trend that is likely to continue into the future. There is a progress review on the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: The Minister touched on my final question, which is the study relating to mature student participation in higher education. This is also due in 2021. Will the Minister clarify when it is due?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 26 — Education (Revised)
Vote 45 — Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (Revised) (23 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I thank the Minister.

Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (11 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: Deputy MacSharry will not be here to take his time, so he asked my colleagues and I to share it among us. I have four brief questions for the Minister and the Minister of State. On the issue of those in at-risk groups who it is hoped will be vaccinated in the coming weeks and months, if there a requirement for them to be vaccinated at home or in a safe environment, will provision made in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (11 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 165. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to centralising the website that advertises apprenticeship vacancies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13719/21]

Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statements (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: I welcome both Ministers. Following on from Deputy Farrell's contribution, it is an exciting time to be part of a new Department. As a former teacher and educator, it is the apprenticeship side of things which really excites me. I think apprenticeships will finally get their long-overdue respect. They need to be a focus of the Government in rolling this out. I note the good work done by...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Efficiency (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 120. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for changes to the various SEAI schemes and grants available to private homeowners to make their homes more energy efficient; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1466/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 501. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the interim report for school transport to be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12827/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 545. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process for the implementation of section 37A of the Education Act 1998 as inserted by section 8 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; the factors that are taken into account in the decision-making process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13373/21]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 657. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a situation (details supplied); if this is happening in other playschools; the actions which can be taken for this family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13437/21]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 671. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to concerns raised by a group (details supplied) in relation to English language education here; the supports that have been made available to the group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12865/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 766. To ask the Minister for Health when school transport escorts will receive the Covid-19 vaccine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12608/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Procedures (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 848. To ask the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for surgery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12941/21]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Vaccination Programme (10 Mar 2021)

Pádraig O'Sullivan: 958. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances of a family (details supplied); if consideration will be given to this request; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13438/21]