Results 1-20 of 7,264 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister and I share a constituency. She must be aware of what is happening and she must have been contacted. Earlier, she referenced a school that is moving to digital. I have been contacted by parents with children in that school and by parents across the State who have been part of a consultation but whose opinion is not reflected in the policy of the school. They simply cannot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she recognises that the introduction of one-to-one digital policies in schools can put an impossible financial burden on some parents; the measures she is taking to support parents and students who are unable to afford digital devices in one-to-one digital schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40113/25]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Information and Communications Technology (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I have heard the response repeatedly. There needs to be an acknowledgement by the Minister and within the Department that there are two things happening here. The first is a funding crisis in our schools overall. There is a massive shortfall. There is an expectation, because the Government is saying it will not bring in a cost-of-living package, that next year will be worse than this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: We waited a long time for the review. To be clear, it stated that reducing the distance criteria would enable more children to be eligible for transport, increasing uptake and thus facilitating greater access to the labour market for working parents. This is mainly women. There are obvious benefits in terms of the environment, socialisation and meeting our climate action targets. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister will guess what my supplementary question is going to be. It will be the same as my initial question. It will be the same question that was put to John Kearney, the head of the NCSE, at the committee's meeting on 2 July, to the Minister of State at the committee's meeting on 18 June and to the Minister at the committee's meeting on 12 June and in the Dáil on the same day...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: I am frustrated on my behalf, as a public representative, and on behalf of parents who are waiting to places for their children. They feel like they are being gaslit because the figures are not being spelled out. They do not know where they stand in terms of the system. It feels like a co-ordinated omertà in the context of the failure to release those figures. There are a number of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who applied and paid on time who were refused places on school transport in September 2024; the specific changes that will be made to the school transport system in the 2025-26 school year, in comparison with 2024-25, to ensure that all children who want to avail of the scheme are accommodated; and if she will make a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister indicate the number of children who applied and paid on time who were refused places on school transport in September 2024? Will she outline the specific changes that will be made to the school transport for the 2025-26 school year, in comparison with 2024-25, to ensure that all children who want to avail of the scheme will be accommodated?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State confirmed that 2,242 children were denied places last year. Many thousands more are forced to deal with Bus Éireann and the Department scrambling at the eleventh hour. There were 40,500 calls and 21,600 webchats with Bus Éireann last year in respect of the system. The system needs to be improved. There was a review. The fact is, however, that the Minister...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children identified by the NCSE by the February deadline who have yet to be offered a school place for September 2025; the total number of children now with a recommendation for a special class or special school place who have not been offered a school place for September; to outline her efforts to ensure that all children with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs (17 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: Will the Minister tell the House the number of children who were identified by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, by the February deadline and are yet to be offered a school place for September 2025? What is the total number of children now with a recommendation for a special class or special school place who have not been offered a school place for September? Will the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: The credit unions did that before.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: No, we are not.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of increasing primary school capitation grants in increments of €25 up to a maximum of €100. [39762/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of increasing secondary school capitation grants of €25 up to a maximum of €100. [39763/25]

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

Darren O'Rourke: 78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of providing an additional 200 SNAs in primary and secondary schools respectively up to 2,000. [39764/25]

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

Darren O'Rourke: 79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of providing an additional 100 special education teachers up to a maximum of 1,000. [39765/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first and full year cost of providing an additional 10,000 school transport places up to a maximum of 100,000 places. [39766/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who register for a place on the school transport scheme; and how many places would need to be delivered to cope with capacity. [39929/25]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (16 Jul 2025)

Darren O'Rourke: 105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children which availed of the school transport scheme in 2024 and to date in 2025, in primary and secondary school respectively. [39930/25]