Results 181-200 of 7,652 for speaker:Joanna Tuffy

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I will first outline the position on privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Thank you, Mr. McCabe. Our final speaker is Ms Faughnan for the Department of Social Protection.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I will start with Ms Sinéad Keenan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank Ms Keenan. I now call on Mr. Pádraig McCabe.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I have a couple of questions also. Mr. McCabe mentioned poverty and it is important we look at that. In terms of the redistribution of income, Ireland has the most redistributive system of all countries in the OECD. We had a meeting on this issue and Dr. Donal de Buitléir has written a lot on the issue. No matter how we cut it, we, more than any other country, redistribute income...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Did Deputy Byrne wish to speak?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Do the Deputies have any other questions? There is one thing I would urge. If the Department of Social Protection is considering national procurement, it might consider operating on a regional basis. For example, it could be done in the way the education and training boards were established. That would fit in with the need to have local investment and so on. Deputy Byrne made another...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: School Meals Programme: Discussion (16 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I thank our witnesses. We have had a very good and informative discussion. This is the last meeting before Christmas, although it may not be the last meeting - we will see how things go. I thank all our members. I am keen to take this opportunity to thank Tom Sheridan, our clerk, and Angela Treacy. We have a new member of staff with us today, Elaine Vaughan. Two other staff members,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (10 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of extra school places provided since March 2011 in areas (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44655/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Start Programme (10 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: 199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the Early Start programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44656/15]

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I ask everybody to put their phones on safe or flight mode or switch them off. The general note on privilege applies. Absolute privilege applies in respect of evidence but if anyone is directed to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, only a qualified privilege applies. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: We will first consider subhead A6 - SNAs. I refer members to page 3 of the secretariat's brief and to page 3 of the Department's document.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: On that point, the purpose of an SNA might have to do with care but, obviously, it would free up teaching hours. An issue that has arisen is whether the SNA facility was being used in the correct way. The reform being proposed by the national council as to how we look at these matters is that we are not just putting in the numbers of SNAs, but asking if they are needed, if they are being...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: It is not that they are not interconnected. A special needs assistant in a classroom has a relationship with education. That may not be the SNA’s role, although many would argue differently. The SNA is there to help the child stay in the classroom.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: The information is provided in the old fashioned way, a certain sum of money equals a certain number of SNAs. It does not tell us anything else. If the Minister and the Department are sympathetic to the idea that we use SNAs to the best of our ability for a system of education, it has to be more than €6 million equals 300 or so extra SNAs.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: If there is any way the Minister can develop this process and work with us and the committee secretariat would be welcome. Could it be said, if this discrete group of pupils improved their educational outcomes, that the improvement related also to SNAs, resource teachers or technology to help students with special needs? Money is being spent by the Department. It is not that it is not...

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: The Deputy has just correlated them.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Perhaps. However, the Deputy stated that if they stay in a classroom longer, their educational outcomes are potentially improved. Therefore, he has made the connection.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: I was just checking. I call Deputy Conaghan.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2015)

Joanna Tuffy: Has the review anything to do with the value for money recommendations? The 2015 Estimates includes a provision to further implement recommendations of the SNA value for money.