Results 441-460 of 842,657 for "section:" . (isset($hansardmajors[$1]["title"]) ? $hansardmajors[$z[1]]["title"] : "$z[1]") OR "section:" . (isset($hansardmajors[$1]["title"]) ? $hansardmajors[$z[1]]["title"] : "$z[1]") speaker:Paschal Donohoe
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Catherine Connolly: The matter concerning external students for whom predictive grades are not appropriate has been raised already and we need clarity. I ask the Minister to give clarity on that as soon as possible. On practical students, I tabled a Dáil question and asked the Minister about this on the last occasion. I did not expect him to know then but we need clarification, for example, in respect of...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Joe McHugh: I thank the Deputy for asking these specific questions. His asked when the written leaving certificate examinations will be held. They will be held this year and the earliest possible date for that is November. I stated publicly that I would like those examinations to be held during the Hallowe'en break in October. They cannot be held in August because the calculated grades will not be...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Richard O'Donoghue: I realise that the Department has had a difficult time trying to work out a programme for schools in September and the transition from the pre-Covid period to now. It is safe to say that schools cannot eliminate the risk of infection but will try to mitigate it in line with whatever guidelines are given to them. Schools are awaiting the issuance of the new template. The one issue about...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Joe McHugh: The first matter the Deputy raised was on monetary guarantees. There is going to be a cost involved but I reassure the Deputy that discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are ongoing and before there is any conclusion as to how school reopening will look in September, there will have to be financial commitments from that Department. That will happen. I take the...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Joe McHugh: What was the question?
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Paul Murphy: Will the Minister agree to employ the staff we need to enable safe reopening and will he also get the space?
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Joe McHugh: Regarding the safe reopening of schools, at the heart of any decision will be the fact that the advice is clear. The advice we get from NPHET, and the advice we have always been getting, has been based on the safety of our citizens. It will be no different for schools. It will have to be safe and no Minister is going to make a decision that would put students or teaching staff in jeopardy....
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Paul Murphy: I want to ask about Firhouse Educate Together secondary school. I previously submitted a written question about this issue. To cut a very long story for those parents short, there had been an agreement to start in September in Firhouse, where the school is located. What is being said now by the Department is that, because of the coronavirus, they will have to go to Citywest. I had an...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
John Lahart: Does the Deputy want an answer?
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Paul Murphy: Yes, please.
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Joe McHugh: The Deputy has raised an important issue, and it is one on which I have had representation from the Acting Chairman, Deputy Lahart, as well as my party colleague, Deputy Brophy. I have asked my officials to give priority to this issue. The Deputy is correct to state that there are ongoing discussions to look at a potential solution. We are still in that space, but I am happy to go back...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
John Lahart: I call Deputy Richard O'Donoghue. I am sorry, I call Deputy Tóibín. I ask the Deputy to forgive me. He is next.
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Richard O'Donoghue: That is the second time.
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Peadar Tóibín: I hope that short level of bias does not display future Government relations.
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
John Lahart: I am the last man to ask about that, Deputy.
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Peadar Tóibín: Many leaving certificate students have gone through fiercely difficult times in recent months. Many have been cut off from their social circles and many have gone through Covid-19 themselves and lost loved ones. Many are also going through serious economic difficulties brought on by the economic crisis caused by Covid-19. On 24 June, many of them still have many questions. I hope the...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Joe McHugh: I am happy to do so. The Deputy raised a number of issues and asked why we do not have the guidelines today. We do not have them today because the engagement with stakeholders is happening tomorrow. A central ingredient in this process, whether it relates to the junior cycle, cancelling written examinations or calculated grades, was to get buy-in from stakeholders. It has been an...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Richard Boyd Barrett: Is the Minister aware of how frustrated and annoyed teachers and parents are about the lack of clarity regarding the reopening of schools in September? He needs to be. Every primary school knows or learns quickly that one cannot put a square peg into a round hole, but it seems that the Minister and the Government think one can and are determined to try to put a square peg into a round hole....
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
Paul Murphy: I have two questions, the first of which flows from what Deputy Boyd Barrett was saying. For parents, students and teachers, there is a significant desire to have schools fully reopened in September. People know that children's education and development are being damaged, as is their emotional well-being. They need to be back in school, learning, socialising and processing the times that...
- Reopening of Schools and Summer Provision 2020: Statements (24 Jun 2020)
John Lahart: Deputy Gannon is next. How does he propose to use his time?