Results 41-60 of 7,097 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for being here. The Minister said that 3,275 special education places were notified to the NCSE for this year under the new arrangement. She said in the Dáil Chamber last week and also on "Morning Ireland" that more than 92% had received an offer. As for the number of children who have not received an offer, being 8% of 3,275, is that 260 or 265 children?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What is the number of children,out of the 3,275 who were notified to the NCSE, who have not yet received an offer of a school place?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What is it today?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What is the number? It is not a trick question. What is the number? The number of 3,275 places has been acknowledged. The Minister said more than 92% had received an offer. How many children is that?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: My question is, what is the number? What is the answer?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Out of the 3,275 - that is the Minister's number; this is not a trick question - children notified to the NCSE under the new process as needing a place for September, how many do not have an offer today?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I accept that.

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: It would be really helpful for the committee to get a breakdown for primary schools, secondary schools and special schools, in Dublin and outside Dublin, on the progress that has been made on securing a school place for the 3,275 children. That is a reasonable request.

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is the Minister-----

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister has stated there are no children outstanding who are waiting for an offer for everyone who has applied in the four counties. Is that what the Minister said?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In fairness to the committee, it would be helpful if we got an update between now and September on the progress that has been made.

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In my head, it is a figure of approximately 260 and we can confirm that at some stage. Some 92% out of the more than 3,000 children have received an offer. Will all those children be in a school place on 1 September? How is the Minister tracking that for the 3,275 children? Will there be a school building? Will there be space in the school? Will teachers and SNAs be allocated?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I do not disagree with any of that. With 1 September in mind, how many of the 3,275 does the Minister think will not have a physical school place? Is there anything she can do between now and September with planning and fast-tracking to try to improve on that number?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I think we should track the 3,275 children who have notified the NCSE that they have a recommendation for a special class or special school place for September 2025. We should get an update in a reasonable timeframe, and continuing regularly thereafter, on categorised primary and secondary special schools and the children who have offers.

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister for that. I have raised SNAs with her before. They do incredibly important work. There has been progress on recruiting them but we do not have enough of them. We discussed during priority questions my expectation that there would be 23,600 in schools this September but now the indication is there will be 23,179. Is that related to retirement of other attrition within...

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is there a new approach to reviews?

Committee on Education and Youth: Engagement with Minister for Education and Youth (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Is there a new circular to be issued in the coming weeks?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Avoidance (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 46. To ask the Minister for Finance the details of the new proposal of the e-liquid products tax and the way in which he intends to ensure that tax evasion particularly from pop-up vape shops does not occur as a company (details supplied) reported that an illicit market could rise to nearly 60% - €131 million in tax could be lost each year; and the measures he is taking to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 73. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide guidance on when a school should provide an SNA for children with ADHD and diabetes, and whether age and severity is taken into account. [32930/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (18 Jun 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will outline the procedures for the development and implementation of new policies and materials relating to primary and post-primary education. [32960/25]