Results 141-160 of 1,608 for speaker:Micheál Carrigy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State and her officials. I wish her well in her new role. We have already met and spoken extensively on issues. I wish to bring up a few points, many of which will refer back to the joint committee report on autism and the specific sections on special education. I note a number have been implemented. I wish touch on the summer programme, which has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister of State covered it. I asked about the OWL programme – or the WALK project. Ironically, today was the graduation at Leinster House for the trainees.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned ACC devices. There is a huge opportunity with assistive technology to help and support. We use it at home with our son. Some 500 tablets were made available with apps and training through AsIAm from disability services, but that needs to be rolled out. Every child who has a speech and language issue should have access to that tablet with the proper app...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I have one last question. An issue that comes up in every school is cover for people on leave. Some of the teachers working in special education centres do not get leave days for certain issues. Something arose today for two members elected to the local authority in Longford. There has been a change in the schedule for municipal meetings, which will now be held at 11 a.m. These two...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: There has been a change to what was the norm for the past 20 years, and it has put elected members in a situation. That is not acceptable.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I asked about speech and language assistant positions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I am asking about the assistant positions rather than speech and language therapists who have done the four-year course. I am speaking about the speech and language assistants on the ETB courses that will start. Five ETBs will have speech and language assistant courses. I do not know what FETAC level the course will be at.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Minister of State.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: Have we developed a model or a template as to how schools that have special classes should run? I do not think that, heretofore, there has been, and it is very dependent on the principal, and the principal decides what teacher goes into the class. Are we going to send out guidelines to schools with regard to what teachers teach in the special classes - that is, teachers with experience, so...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: Unfortunately, that is not happening in a lot of schools.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: An Inclusive Education for an Inclusive Society: Department of Education (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: In some cases, kids may be in mainstream but then step back into the special class setting. We need guidelines there for all schools rather than led by the management because sometimes it is not what it should be. I compliment the Minister of State. I know she is a colleague of mine. She has been excellent in the role since she took on the position.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sports Funding (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: The Minister of State is very welcome. I thank him for taking this Commencement matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Byrne. The reality is we do not have facilities that are of an equal standard throughout the country and across all sporting activities. Over the last number of years, and particularly since the 2020 campaign from the Federation of Irish Sport, we have seen a massive...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Sports Funding (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: While I welcome the significant funding put in place, the large-scale infrastructure fund is for large-scale infrastructure projects. The GAA alone has 2,200 clubs across 32 counties. There are also rugby clubs and soccer clubs. These are the smaller club facilities where young girls start out playing the sport. The reality is that a high percentage of them do not have the facilities. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: As the Fine Gael spokesperson on sport in the Seanad, I extend my party's sympathies to the Ó Muircheartaigh family. Mícheál was the voice of the GAA for me growing up. One memory popped into my head. It was during a Munster hurling match, although I forget which game it was, when Mícheál said a Rabbitte was chasing a Fox in his commentary. He brought the game to...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I welcome the Minister of State. I am back here for the fifth year in a row, with the same request for funding from the Department to cover the loss of rates revenue at Lough Ree power station. As the Minister of State knows, Lough Ree power station in Lanesborough - similarly to Shannonbridge in County Offaly - was due to close in 2027. However, both plants closed in 2020, seven years...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Local Authorities (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Minister of State for his positive reply and the commitment that the funding will be in the Estimates for 2025 and 2026. Am I correct that the figure will be similar to the €1.2 million provided in 2023 and 2024, respectively? Will he confirm that for me? I would appreciate it.

Seanad: Control of Dogs (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2024: Second Stage (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I thank the Acting Chairperson and welcome the Minister to the Chamber. As Senator McGreehan has highlighted the recent tragedy and we are discussing this issue, it is important that we convey our sympathies to the family of the young lady who was recently deceased. Over the last number of years a lot of young children have been mauled, disfigured, etc. and we are mindful of their plight....

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 May 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: I fully concur with the comments of Senator Currie. We need to have the opportunity for every child to be educated in his or her own community with his or her own siblings. I do not think it is acceptable that any principal in any school would not seek local support for a class to give every child the opportunity and the same chance in life. It is unacceptable for any school to fail to do...

Seanad: Housing Commission Report: Motion (29 May 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: That is no problem. I want to speak on housing in Longford, where I come from, which has a population of 45,000 people, and where we stand on housing. Since 2016, when Housing for All or Rebuilding Ireland policies were brought in by Fine Gael, nearly 1,000 houses have been completed in County Longford, nearly 1,000 new and refurbished social houses and more than 170 families have submitted...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 May 2024)

Micheál Carrigy: The national enterprise awards take place in the Mansion House tonight. I wish well the representatives from my home county, Longford, namely Robert Higgins and Patrick McGivney from Harp Media. These two young lads have entered the TV industry and forged a name for themselves. In their home county, they filmed the notable film "Lakelands", which went on to receive international acclaim....