Results 1-20 of 7,145 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank the Minister of State for that response. I did not go directly to TII myself. I await a response from it, but this response from the Minister of State is helpful because it sets out the position. Meath County Council has pointed to a pathway involving a TII-initiated process. That does not look like it is happening. In TII's inspection and its review Carlanstown has not come...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCeann Comhairle. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue for debate. It is an important one and sits within road safety. This was a tragic day on our roads in Donegal and east Meath. I extend my deepest condolences to all those affected. Internationally, in the world of sport, there was a very high-profile death on the roads. Road safety is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Funding for further education and training has been cut by approximately €40 million. In my own area under the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board, the funding cut is in the region of €14 million. That is very significant and will have an impact on apprenticeships and further education courses. They will be delayed, postponed or cancelled. We have also been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if a facility (details supplied) is still being considered to house applicants for international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35259/25]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Trade Sanctions (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 94. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to protect Irish whiskey in international markets; the plans for expansion in that regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35260/25]

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Enterprise Support Services (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 199. To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the measures he is taking to support food enterprise and innovation in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35261/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 211. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will reintroduce the route for people who undertook an early childhood care bachelor degree to attend a postgraduate course in St. Nicholas Montessori college (previously offered a route 4 pathway to Teaching Council recognition) and extend this to other colleges. [36742/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports being put in place to help undergraduates to progress from their early childhood education degree to furthering their studies to become a teacher. [36743/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: General Practitioner Services (3 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 388. To ask the Minister for Health if she will agree to allow a GP in County Meath (details supplied) access to the GMS scheme while he is waiting for a lift to be installed in his practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36967/25]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I thank all the witnesses. I will focus specifically on school buildings for the newly sanctioned classes. The parents’ opening statement referred to their concerns about buildings being in place. Will they reflect on that point? I would ask the same of the other witnesses. They talk of the possibility of a plan B. The IPPN mentioned the prospect of an emergency SET-plus plan....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: What is it? Is it planning or bureaucracy?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. That is very useful.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: In fairness, I think there is a particular focus on this committee. Mr. Clerkin has 40 seconds.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I will probably speak on the same lines. On the new allocation of special classes for 2025-26, I think just over 1% and 2.3% of special classes are allocated for children with mild and moderate general learning disabilities. Is that discrepancy the same issue? Is it connected with the 2024 circular? Is there a move away from providing those specific types of special classes? How does...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: For example, children are presenting now with a recommendation for a mild general learning disability special class. However, the SENOs will say they do not provide them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I have to say I am hearing very different things. I am hearing there is a cohort of children falling through the cracks. They are being lost in the system because we do not have disaggregated information. In the first session, parents of these children said they are not being listened to by the National Council for Special Education. The EPSEN review published yesterday, which is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: There is a big difference between not being perfect and 25% saying it is very unhelpful. I am making this point respectfully. As a public representative and spokesperson for education, I am hearing from parents that the system is not providing for their children and is not listening to their concerns. It does not hear them.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth: Education for Children with Special Educational Needs: Discussion (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I think the NCSE has a lot of work to do.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Waiting Lists (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 273. To ask the Minister for Health that considering 31% of patients from an NAI survey reported waiting times of one to two years to see a neurologist, the measures she is taking to increase capacity and reduce waiting times; and the number of consultant neurologists there were in 2024 and to date in 2025. [36613/25]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Health Services (2 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 274. To ask the Minister for Health the number of people who have not been able to access community neurorehabilitation services over the past 12 months. [36614/25]