Results 961-980 of 3,978 for speaker:Sorca Clarke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reducing class sizes in primary schools that will bring Ireland into line with our EU counterparts. [3739/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 274. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the progress made in relation to guidance counsellors for post primary schools in the context of the public consultation on the national policy group on lifelong guidance. [3933/24]

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Health Services Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 458. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth how many speech and language therapists are currently working in each health district in Ireland and how many positions are currently vacant; and how current numbers compare with each of the past five years. [3716/24]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (25 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 242. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to extend teacher training in the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone. [3553/24]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Data (25 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: 276. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of individuals and couples in Westmeath and Longford who are in State-supported homeless accommodation via their local authority but also on reduced rate of jobseeker's. [3457/24]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: I thank the Chair and Deputy O'Sullivan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: I thank the Chair. I also thank the Minister for referring to the issue I brought to his attention about the part-time option for study. It is very important that we create the pathways for anyone who wants to go back to education to have the facility to do so. That was a real barrier so I will be following those developments with some interest. I have three questions I wish to put to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Are all of those two thirds owned by investment funds?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Could the Minister back to the committee with an answer to that question, please?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: My second question is that an issue emerged last year in my own constituency to do with a Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, applicant who was renting a room, was therefore not a tenant, was not a licensed holder, and could not provide SUSI with a tenancy agreement. Can the Minister give a commitment that greater clarification will be provided to SUSI because that applicant and grant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Renting a room.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: No, renting a room in a third party's home. They were privately renting a room.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: And were refused SUSI grant on the basis that they could not provide a tenancy agreement. They are never going to be in a position to have a tenancy agreement.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: It was grossly unfair. The person had to go through an appeals process that took an inordinate amount of time for something which should have been very clear-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: -----and obvious to the person who was processing the application that this was information that was never going to be available.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: As I said, this was an issue of deep unfairness which should never have arisen-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Someone has been investing in some time machines. The current amount, however, is only at 62% of capacity. That has me deeply concerned, as does the 17% drop in enrolments compared to the previous year. When I look at the courses which are provided, there are nine schools in this education and training board, ETB, and only two are providing PLC courses. Nine of these courses are in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Update on Key Issues: Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (24 Jan 2024)

Sorca Clarke: This is a significant gap. What engagement has the Minister or the Department had with ETBs around the provision of the wider body of PLC courses which could be available? This is an area which is involved in the midlands regional transitional programme and there is absolutely scope there for the development of other PLC courses. My first question, therefore, is what engagement has the...