Results 5,021-5,040 of 11,570 for speaker:Colm Burke

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Sector (12 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: 1128. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forestry licences issued for private felling and for Coillte felling, respectively, per week from 1 January to 30 June 2022; the number of forestry licences issued in the same timeframe in 2021, in tabular form; if these figures are on target, as per the Forestry Licensing Plan 2022; and if he will make a statement...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank all the departmental officials for the work they have been doing, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been a challenging time. Turning to deal with the schools building process and the process we have regarding schools building projects, and especially the tendering process, the whole context of the system has now changed. A tender could be submitted today...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: The problem is really with the timescale from when tenders are received to when the contract is awarded to the tenderer the Department deems appropriate to undertake the job. Has this aspect been examined in respect of determining whether it can be expedited to secure progress and move these projects forward? I know of other projects, not involving this Department, where there was such a...

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: I will move on to issues in planning. I was involved in-----

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Regarding the current amount the Department is paying to rent premises, what kind of figure are we talking about in this regard? How far has that changed? The Department has undertaken a major programme to move away from renting prefabs and premises. What kind of amount are we currently paying in this context? What is the target to reduce this figure further over the next three to four years?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: In two years’ time, will that figure be reduced substantially?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: It would also be dictated by long-term planning. If the Department undertook long-term planning, then the need for rentals would not arise.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Turning to places for children with additional educational needs, many families in my constituency of Cork North-Central have not got places for their children. Has there been engagement with schools in Cork city, and especially in the Glanmire and Blarney area, to ensure that every child will have a place on 1 September? Is the Department satisfied that enough work has been done on this area?

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Families are still coming to me who say that, as of today, they do not have a place for September.

Public Accounts Committee: 2020 Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and Appropriation Accounts
Vote 26 - Education
2018 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 7 - Purchase of Sites for School Provision
2019 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services of the Comptroller and Auditor General
Chapter 8 - Management of the Schools Estate (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: If I come back to the Department of Education next week regarding people who do not have a place, who do I contact in that scenario?

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Briefly, this is a difficult area in relation to managing funds, because of the problem with the banks. There is also the issue of investment and the risk of investment. It has been a challenging time for everyone in this area. There are no easy answers to it. A lot of money has been invested. There is the issue of careful management. The other problem that is occurring in relation...

Public Accounts Committee: Business of Committee (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: There is an investment committee that gives advice on it in advance.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: 30. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way that the lowering of the student contribution charge will lessen the cost of living for students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35584/22]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: 72. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is successfully making apprenticeships available to marginalised groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35585/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Equality Issues (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: 127. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his Department’s current working projects to tackle harassment perpetrated on the LGBTQ+ community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35704/22]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Childcare Services (7 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: 144. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the amount that he expects parents to financially save under the proposals to tackle the cost of childcare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35705/22]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Business of Joint Committee (6 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: Regarding the meeting on 10 May, I was not at the start of it but I think I came in later. I may be wrong. I might be getting my dates wrong and I may have missed the meeting completely. It was the meeting that was adjourned and then resumed, if the Chair remembers. I am just raising this point. It might be possible to have a look at it. It is not a major issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Effects of Long Covid and Provision of Long Covid Care: Engagement with Dr. John Lambert (6 Jul 2022)

Colm Burke: I thank Dr. Lambert for his presentation and for the work that he is doing. In that respect, has he been involved with the National Association of General Practitioners and made a presentation to it at any stage? GPs are the people on the front line and the ones encountering this complex problem. Has there been a briefing session with GPs on this complex issue?