Results 81-100 of 7,686 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 400. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department has not contacted schools regarding the mainstream class teacher grant since 2 September 2025; if she will make contact to eligible schools informing them of any delays in payment; and measures being taken to ensure payment is made as quickly as possible. [56970/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Budget 2026 (21 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the Abridged Estimates Volume for Budget 2026 for Vote number 26, including the provisional sub head and programme level allocations. [57422/25]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (21 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 561. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for a general overview of the current average processing times for naturalisation applications; the specific measures being taken by the Department to address backlogs and delays, particularly for long-term residents with established family and professional ties in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Curriculum Reform at Senior Cycle: Discussion (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the witnesses. There is some concern that the minimum of 40% on the additional assessment components, AACs, is high and a suggestion that, at that level, there is a greater incentive to cheat. I will put it as bluntly as that. Whose decision was it to set the minimum at 40%, and what is the evidence base for it? What about the suggestions on the impulse to cheat?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Curriculum Reform at Senior Cycle: Discussion (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank Mr. Kenny for his response. I want to pick up on the AI and AAC piece again with Ms Feeney. I take her point about the Internet and calculators. It feels to me as if generative AI is a different animal. The Internet is like an encyclopaedia, if you like, but generative AI has the ability to synthesise information and to present it. If I tell it to sound like a leaving cert...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Curriculum Reform at Senior Cycle: Discussion (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I would make the point to the NCCA that the feedback I am getting from teachers, having attended some of the teacher conferences, is that participants in the SDGs feel like their contribution is not reflected. I know the witnesses have given examples of where the NCCA has listened and responded, but I would suggest it would be a worthwhile exercise to talk to previous and current members of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Curriculum Reform at Senior Cycle: Discussion (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The nature of those things is that they are dynamic and so on. I would encourage that to be an ongoing process. It is in everyone's interest. While we will hear from a number of different stakeholders next week, I have heard clearly from science teachers – I have a background in science myself – about the need to continue a strong output of well-qualified scientists....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Artificial Intelligence (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 27. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline his investment plan for research in the area of artificial intelligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54274/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a new building for college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54273/25]

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 109. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when another round of category 1 funding for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will be announced; the criteria that will apply; the measures in place, to ensure a fair distribution of funds; the date on which applications will open and close; if projects which were previously unsuccessful will be allowed re-submit,...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 126. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the funding available through his Department for community festivals such as, for example, Dunshaughlin Harvest Festival in County Meath (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54276/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (16 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware that a school (details supplied) in Cork has a critically low level of SNA support and has reduced the timetable of children in the school to three and four days a week, which will greatly upset their heavily relied upon routine; and the measures she will take to ensure there is adequate SNA support available for the school to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (15 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to the Budget 2026 commitment (details supplied) that ‘80 school buildings will progress to construction across 2026 & 2027 as part of 2-year rolling programme and progression of 300 school building projects currently in construction’, if she will provide a list of those schools, and the type and stage of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (15 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 187. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on a new IT system for school payroll systems; the scope and stage of development of this system and the anticipated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56013/25]

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Inquiries (15 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 229. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person in receipt of carers allowance and is working 18.5 hours is paid by their employer for their break times and are included as working hours; the measures her Department uses to ensure that the person is not subject to repayments or review when not physically working during their lunch break. [55877/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Laboratory Facilities (15 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 354. To ask the Minister for Health to provide an update on the new laboratory IT system (details supplied) ; the length of time this system has been in development, the timeline for rollout, the cost of this project to date, and the expected total cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56012/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 18. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [50086/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 23. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [53071/25]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In the audiovisual room this afternoon, a briefing organised by Deputy Guirke was addressed by Ciaran Staunton and Kelly Fincham on barriers faced by Irish citizens returning from abroad. They raised a range of barriers, such as access to driving licences and planning permission, but the issue I want to raise that relates to the economy and trade is the dearth of teachers, occupational...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (14 Oct 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 7. To ask the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness will next meet. [50085/25]