Results 3,761-3,780 of 9,820 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action being taken to address the need for additional schools infrastructure and staffing in areas of rapidly growing population and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14681/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Could the Minister for Education and Skills tell me the position with regard to rapidly growing areas? I am not convinced that enough is being done in the Department to make sure the supply of schools and school places is sufficient.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I am glad to see that some action is being taken in the Department on foot of concerns that I hope the Minister's officials have raised with him because I have certainly raised them with the officials over the past year or two. I would like to know when the decision to carry out this exercise was taken because we have been told over the past number of years that everything was in hand in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: My information is that the Department received that information from the local authority but it was not requested by the Department of Education and Skills regarding the non-large-scale developments, which is all Ashbourne has. There would not be any under the new planning process or indeed under LIHAF but the area is still growing rapidly. I am afraid the spin unit is rubbing off a bit on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 44. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether the six-year route to qualifying as a second level teacher is too long. [14449/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether schools are generally in severe financial difficulties; and if an increase in capitation rates will be ensured. [14453/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a clear path to pay equality for newly qualified teachers will be in place. [14450/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 144. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of pay scales of teachers or resource staff members in Youthreach, adult education or PLC colleges; and if there is a national common scale. [14638/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person with a master's degree and a higher diploma in further education is considered to be a teacher. [14639/18]

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I refer to programme A, first, second and early years education, on the current side. I do not want to delay the meeting but I do have some questions. I acknowledge that contained within that are the commitments in the confidence and supply agreement in respect of the pupil-teacher ratio and guidance counsellors. It is welcome that the pupil-teacher ratio will drop to 26:1 at primary level...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: May I query some of the points the Minister made?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Will the Minister set out clearly his view on the equalisation of teacher pay scales and whether he supports the principle of equal pay scales for teachers? He should indicate whether he will make such a statement at the teacher conferences next week. There has been enough talk about this issue. The parties in the Dáil, except for Fine Gael, are united on this. What the unions or,...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I would like to add to that briefly. Some time ago, I tabled a parliamentary question on the subject of section 29 appeals in respect of expulsion, suspension or admission. The figures I received in reply, which are on the record of the Dáil, show that children with special needs are disproportionately more likely to be users of the section 29 system. It is utterly disproportionate....

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: The Minister cannot blame the unions.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: It was certainly prioritised by the teachers' unions.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I am shocked the Minister has decided to blame the trade unions. It is fair enough to throw Fianna Fáil into it. We were in government up to 2011. We fought an election against the Minister under sustained criticism by him at the time. We are seven years on from that.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Seven years on from that, the Minister turns around to blame the trade unions. It is just extraordinary. The comment should be withdrawn by the Minister. A Government decision is required, not a decision by the trade unions. The teachers' unions rejected the pay agreement at the time. Perhaps the Minister will give us more details on those pay talks, to which I am not privy, and the...

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Did the Deputy raise the gender issue under skills development?

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I was going to raise the same issue. The only point I will make is it is one of the few areas of gender equality where we are disgracefully embarrassed by the figures. There is a collection of reasons for that. Deputy Catherine Martin has asked about it.

Select Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised) (28 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I have a question for the Minister. Where does capital expenditure on further education come into the Estimates? Is it in the grant to SOLAS under this heading or is it part of capital expenditure? Does it exist at all?