Results 7,861-7,880 of 11,246 for speaker:Colm Burke

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Have schools been encouraged by the Department to consider additional space as well as what they have on the school campus? Has there been engagement with school principals on this issue, where there are large or increasing numbers of students?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: What is the feedback from the NAPD's members on this issue?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: When would principals need a final decision to be taken on the 1 m or 2 m rule or other guidelines? What is the latest date they could get those guidelines? Obviously they would prefer to have them today or tomorrow but have the witnesses any idea about that? It cannot be left until the last week of August. Is there any indication from the Department yet on when there will be more...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Schools that have children with special educational needs have additional challenges. Has the Department engaged on this issue? A number of schools in my area have accommodation issues and they also have a large number of pupils with these challenges. What engagement has there been with the Department on this issue?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (Resumed) (7 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Does this include the possible need for additional staff to deal with this issue?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Tourism, Arts and Entertainment Sector (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Yes. I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I also thank them for all of the work that they have done over the past four months in a very challenging time for everyone. In the presentation this morning, Ms Licken referred to Cruinniú na nÓg, which is the free initiative for young people. What was done in that programme aimed at young people? I ask because many young...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank all the witnesses for the work they have done with the Department, schools and students over the last number of months, which has been a very difficult time. I wish to raise an issue the witnesses have touched on already, which is remote learning. Do the witnesses feel there will have to be some element of remote learning and that not all schools will be able to return fully? I...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Regarding the actual connections to broadband in the schools themselves, do we still have a problem with some schools and do we know the scale of that problem? Teachers worked from their own homes because the vast majority of them had access. In some cases it was very difficult but they still put in the work and effort to ensure that they were able to communicate with their students....

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Do we know the scale of either secondary schools or primary schools where that is a problem?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Okay, but I presume the witnesses are pressing the Department that any problem areas are resolved between now and 1 September.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: I accept that. I want to return briefly to the issue of adequate space in schools. At the moment we have 2 m distancing and some schools will have a huge problem with that. When schools go back on 1 September perhaps that will have been reduced downward. On the issue of not all students coming to school at one time, for instance, where people are coming in the morning and then a different...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Is there engagement with schools on this issue already?

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank the witness.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: No, I am fine.

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: I thank the speakers and the organisations represented here for the work they have done over recent months in very difficult times. It has been hugely challenging for teachers. They have worked very hard, many of them from home, to keep in contact with their students and continue to provide assistance and guidance to them. I welcome in particular Mary Magner, who is a principal in Blarney...

Special Committee on Covid-19 Response: Impact of Covid-19: Education – Return to School and School Transport (2 Jul 2020)

Colm Burke: Mr. Boyle earlier referred to the need for buy-in by everyone. Where do the witnesses feel the biggest challenge is going to be with that buy-in?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (30 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: 49. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider an extension of Covid-19 pandemic support schemes to aid those in the photography and videography business sector until such time as the sector can sustainably recover; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13149/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (30 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: 150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures and support available to school bus operators following Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12958/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: 176. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional resources will be made available to reduce class sizes in a school (details supplied) in view of the fact that classes are being amalgamated and the sizes of classes are increasing to over 30 from September 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13113/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (30 Jun 2020)

Colm Burke: 186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided to a school (details supplied) to enable it to proceed with the building of a school hall, woodwork room, music room and additional classrooms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13195/20]