Results 1-20 of 3,046 for speaker:Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Through no fault of the Minister's I probably did not leave enough time for her to reply. She is eating into my colleague's time so perhaps she could respond to me in writing. I will let my colleague put his questions.

Opening of Schools and Calculated Grades: Statements (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: We had a good debate on Tuesday evening during which we addressed some of the issues that related to the return to school and I will not go into some of them on this occasion. It was a good debate on an important issue related to the funding of education, the pupil-teacher ratio and overcrowded classrooms. I appreciate that Deputies felt the need to protest tonight over speaking time...

Future of School Education: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Record it. It is as simple as that, a Cheann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I hope the Minister of State will not take this in an adversarial way but this is an issue that needs to be resolved. A small number of institutions offer post-primary and further or higher education. 12 o’clock They seem to be located in the south east in particular. There is some confusion as to the fact there are guidelines relating to higher and further education, there is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the school transport scheme will need to be expanded in view of Covid-19 and social distancing; and the steps that will be taken to ensure that no child that participated in the school transport scheme in 2019-2020 will be denied a seat in 2020-2021. [19312/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Among several welcome elements in the roadmap, which includes things that we had called for over time, some have raised huge questions and require significant clarification. One of the biggest is school transport. Some 120,000 children are carried every year by school transport programmes. Among any of the operators I have spoken to there is very little clarity and they have had very...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I heard Dermot O'Leary of the National Bus and Rail Union, NBRU, on the radio some days ago, shortly before the plan was published. He was speaking about whether he thought any additional capacity could be found and he expressed some scepticism. He is a stakeholder and I would hope that any engagement would have included unions such as the NBRU. He, like most of us, would have anticipated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I have not disputed that but I asked about capacity. The Minister mentioned everyone who applies, but what if for any reason the capacity must be reduced. The providers, Bus Éireann, taxis and various companies, will have their own considerations. I asked the Minister this question which is what parents want to know. Of course they want to know about safety, where they will be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: Yes or no?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: As a brief aside, I was just outside with the parents, staff and board of management of Firhouse Educate Together. An illustration of the situation we have found ourselves in over many years is the fact that there has been demographic growth but the Department has been too slow in planning for a new school building. Consequently, that school is being forced to move all the way to Citywest,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome the increase in the minor works grant but that will not do it for every school. Not every school can convert a room or make extra space within a classroom. The grant will deal with issues such as hot water also, and that is welcome, but it will not satisfy every need. I believe the Minister knows that. For schools in that position, the undertaking they will have to make in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the exact statistical model used for the national school standardisation process for leaving certificate results in 2020; and the way in which gender and socioeconomic status will be taken into account when assigning calculated grades. [19310/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I welcome the Minister to the first of these sessions. I hope we have many useful exchanges during the course of this Dáil. A briefing was organised yesterday, so to some extent events may have overtaken my question, but not all my concerns were addressed. There is still significant concern that the calculations model will be affected by a school having had low results in the past or...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: I did not hear anything from the Minister there that I did not already know. I have had concerns about calculated grades in the past. I recognise the difficult situation and I had numerous conversations with the Minister's predecessor on what should happen next. I have particular concerns around school profiling. My concern is that young adults applying for their place in university will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: There is a certain contradiction in that. If the model fails the validation and does not produce the result we expect from a particular demographic or gender, there will have to be adjustments. Grades will either have to go down or go up. That has real implications for students. It really is not good enough. The Minister has not answered my primary question. There is a model. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Examinations (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: That is not the same thing, as the Minister well knows.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 2. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether expanded classrooms or additional prefabs will be required to be erected to facilitate appropriate distancing of pupils; if there will be initiatives to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio, particularly in circumstances in which it relates to schools over 30; and the funding her Department will provide to facilitate same. [19311/20]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: On Tuesday evening a Private Members' motion highlighted the fact that we have found it so hard to reopen schools because we have overcrowded classrooms and buildings that are not fit for purpose. The point was not really addressed by either Minister during the debate. What is the Department doing about this, beyond the minor works and adjustment grant? Has it carried out an audit of...

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

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to significantly reduce class sizes in primary schools in view of the fact that Ireland has the highest-class sizes in Europe and the need for social distancing due to Covid-19. [19307/20]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire: 58. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the provision being made for students, teachers or school staff that are immunocompromised and will be concerned regarding the return to schools and that it may not be in accordance with health advice to attend. [19303/20]