Results 3,161-3,180 of 6,137 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 614. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the schools that have returned for the 2020/2021 academic year with classes of 30 or more by county in tabular form and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22391/20]

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I now have only have three minutes to contribute so, unfortunately, I will not be ceding time to the Minister. While it is probably a crossover issue between the Minister and the Minister, Deputy Foley, CAO applicants from 2019 or earlier are seeking to access higher and further education and a solution needs to be found. I firmly believe that solutions can be found. It is about...

Back to School, Further and Higher Education and Special Education: Statements (3 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Tá mé ag roinnt mo chuid ama leis an Teachta Conway-Walsh. There have been many happy scenes throughout the State of children returning to school and it is a positive thing. We had our own return to school with our nine year old last Thursday and I must give a lot of credit to the school. It has been excellent so far. I acknowledged yesterday, agus d'aithin mé ar maidin sa...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Go raibh maith agat to all of our guests for being here today. I thank them for their work and that of the members of their unions in the past couple of weeks because I know the effort has been phenomenal and major sacrifices have been made for the benefit of the children of this country. I think I speak for many people when I say that we are grateful. Perhaps it is time for those media...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank Ms Magner. I take it that we will have to wait to see whether the process is adequate. The message I hear is that it is something that needs to be kept under review. My next question is for Mr. Pike of Fórsa. I welcome the fact that representatives from Fórsa are present. It is regrettable that they were not before the committee previously, particularly as that the staff...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Mr. Pike has made a very important point. Many issues relating to special education needs are still to be clarified, one of which relates to face coverings. I have a question for the representatives of the TUI on face coverings. Principals who have contacted me are concerned that it is not clear what evidence they should rely on where a child is seeking exemption. There are many justified...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: The ASTI has expressed a number of concerns about some of the precautions that need to be taken on an ongoing basis. Parents are concerned that it is not clear that every child in a class will be treated as a close contact even though that is what ECDC guidelines require. Is the ASTI concerned that that is the case? Should every child in a class be treated as a close contact?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank Mr. Christie. I think my time is up but as a final point - I do not require a response - it is crazy that so many schools do not have access to hot water. That needs to be addressed urgently.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: As I have five minutes, I will do this in two parts if that is okay. First, I will address Inclusion Ireland. It seems to me, and the previous survey presented to the committee demonstrated this, that children with special educational needs and intellectual disabilities were among those who suffered most due to the schools being closed, despite the best efforts of everyone. From talking to...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I appreciate all that and those issues have been well flagged. I have some questions for the National Parents Council. Parents are not totally clear as to when they should keep their children home. They also have concern over income support. If they do the right thing by keeping their children out when they display symptoms or if there is a positive case in the school, they are worried...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I, along with my colleague, Deputy Conway-Walsh, who will flesh this out, want to flag with the Minister the issue of calculated grades. I do not need a response now and I may raise the issue with her on another occasion. Students who sat the leaving certificate in 2019 are concerned about the implications for their college places. I believe solutions can be found and I will write to the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I apologise. I do not mean to be disruptive but I have limitations on my time.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: They are very simple questions, so if the Minister could please-----

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I understand.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is welcome but it is not consistent with some of the previous statements that have been made. The Minister is confirming there will be priority testing. That is vitally important and I hope we will see that happen for students and staff where it is required, within 24 to 48 hours and as soon as possible. I will speak about high-risk staff as well but I wish to raise with the...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I am not looking for a blanket approach. I am not looking for a one-page email or a one-page statement. I am looking for some kind of guidance, that is, some kind of documentation or a process but there is nothing for these people. Even the stuff the Minister said about GPs has not been provided. The school has no basis on which to say that it should accept the letter of a GP. The school...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I appreciate that there is a lot of guidance on various situations but there is nothing about this category. I will leave it at that and ask the Minister to consider the issue because it really does need to be considered. There is no reference anywhere to this category of family. My final question relates to school transport. It is chaotic. It is a bit of an issue every year, as I am...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Covid-19: Review of the Reopening of Schools (Resumed) (2 Sep 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Will the Minister seek ways to try to bring them into the system in order that this can happen safely and sustainably?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I thank Professor Nolan and Dr. Glynn for their efforts to date in fighting this pandemic, which have been extraordinary. I know the people of this country are grateful as well. I have six minutes and that is to include answers so, as much as I appreciate public health and epidemiology are complex and do not lend themselves to brief answers, I would appreciate it if the witnesses could be...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: State Response to Recent Spike in Covid-19 Cases (Resumed) (26 Aug 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have been contacted by many school staff and parents regarding the difference between those at high risk and those at very high risk. Many school staff in particular have been concerned. They have been certified by Medmark as fit to return to work as they are only high risk. They are upset and worried by this and they feel compromised. They are also unhappy at the relative lack of...