Results 3,821-3,840 of 9,894 for speaker:Thomas Byrne

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: Regardless of what schools are to be built, the problem is that a huge catch up will be required in terms of the school buildings that have not yet started and those that have not been completed. The schools that are only starting to think about their requirements for a new building and which do not appear on any of the lists do not have any chance. I would add to those the schools that...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: A pattern has developed such that if we say anything about the Government or a Department, we are accused of criticising civil servants. The Minister is the one who is held to account in this Dáil. I am holding him to account and nobody else when I ask questions in this Dáil, not civil servants. We had this with the strategic communications unit, SCU, and every time we mentioned...

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: What?

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: This is the most shocked I have been in the Dáil in many years. According to the Minister, this will expand the capacity of teachers and SNAs-----

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: ----to provide speech and language therapy and occupational therapy.

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: If we are somehow going to land teachers and SNAs with those therapist roles and train them in how to deal with issues, the Minister might as well stop this now because I imagine it will not be acceptable to the Dáil. If that is what he has in mind, it worries me greatly. I am glad that I asked this question now. Providing speech and language therapy in schools sounds fantastic in a...

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: That is actually what we thought it might be.

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 7. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when in-school speech and language therapy teams will be in place; and the nature of the service that will be provided. [14451/18]

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: The question asks that the Minister would flesh out the information on what exactly he is proposing in regard to in-school speech and language therapy. It was to be a pilot project but the language was changed subsequently to a study or a study project, which concerned people. What is the Minister's vision in this regard?

Other Questions: Speech and Language Therapy (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I think the Minister has let the cat out of the bag. This is not what I had been envisaging. The Minister referred to a "demonstration project", which is certainly a change from the programme for Government. He has not said in which schools it will take place or where it will take place. Moreover, the model that seems to be envisaged is not a replacement for the health service or therapy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: The question does not require an immediate and specific response from the Minister. What I am seeking, I suppose, are sentiments, and the Minister has already expressed sentiments. I was impressed by the young ladies from St. Joseph's school in Lucan who contacted the Minister about a specific case in their area, which I do not propose to address in the Chamber. They raise the important...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: I would be grateful if the Minister would consider the simple suggestion made by the young transition year students to whom I referred. Many transition year students have fantastic ideas such as this one, which would simply require the Minister to issue a circular encouraging schools to share facilities. Such a move would be welcomed by students and probably by schools. My party leader...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: 3. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the initiatives being taken to enable greater choice for each gender regarding the school curriculum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14682/18]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (29 Mar 2018)

Thomas Byrne: My question probably should have been worded slightly more clearly. I am asking about shared facilities in schools. I recently met a delegation of transition year students from St. Joseph's girls' school in Lucan. They would love to be able to study technical graphics and building construction. They do not have the facilities in their school and they would like to share with a boys'...

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]