Results 501-520 of 843,488 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

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Stephen Donnelly: I thank the Deputy for his kind words at the start. I really do hope we will all work together; it does not mean we always have to agree. Sorting out the healthcare system and making sure we get that care is something we all agree on. I am sure we will disagree on some of the hows and whens and so forth. I broadly agree with what the Deputy is saying. Like him, we listen to the doctors...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Duncan Smith: I have a concern as we go into August and September. I imagine the schools will be back in some fashion, although that is a whole other debate. Society will feel like it is moving even further towards reopening and we may feel further away psychologically from the pandemic. I want to continue to hammer home the need for the Government to be ten steps ahead of where society is as we head...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I appreciate that the Deputy acknowledges the existence of the grant option and indeed the merits of this programme of which I am very supportive. I am not aware of the specifics of the three cases the Deputy mentioned. Perhaps he might make them available to my Department and my officials will take a look.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: Deputy Paul Murphy should be aware of the time. There is only one minute left.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Paul Murphy: Deputy Seán Crowe is surely also entitled to a minute.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: There is only one minute left. The Deputies should cut to the chase.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Paul Murphy: I will take 30 seconds. This plan will not be acceptable. The Minister is facing a formidable campaign of opposition that has collected more than 2,000 signatures. The campaign has community support and there was a large online public meeting on the issue last week. I do not think the Department can just wash its hands of this and say that the choice is up to the patron bodies. The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Seán Crowe: The big question is how to get 40% of the students up to another site. That is the big difficulty and challenge. The school's representatives are saying to us that it is not viable for the school in the long term to put parents into that situation. Those parents are going to move their children out of the school and that will put pressure on other schools in the area. Logically, if one...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: School Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I have listened to the Deputies and heard what they have said. I appreciate there is unanimity among the Deputies from the area on this issue. The Deputies have raised points from the perspectives of parents and children and I have heard what they have said. All I can say at this point is that my officials in the Department will continue to have ongoing communication with the patron bodies...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Special Educational Needs

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: I welcome the Minister to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. The summer provision programme for 2020 is hugely important because it assists, in particular, children who have profound learning difficulties, such as autism and so on. I welcome the fact 5,000 more children will participate in summer provision this year than did last year. The Minister knows children with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Before I address the specific issue, I would like to provide the Members of the House with an outline on the extent of the school transport service. School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department. In the 2019-2020 school year, more than 120,000 children, including 14,200 children with...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2020)

Fergus O'Dowd: That is the same reply that I received earlier from the Department. I acknowledge the intent of what the Minister has said but I reject its content. I do not find that acceptable and I want to stress that these are children with exceptional needs, as I know the Minister acknowledges. There is no way the family in question can pay the bill and recoup the funding. I absolutely acknowledge...

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (7 Jul 2020)

Ábhair Shaincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Matters (7 Jul 2020)

Bernard Durkan: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 29A and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív - to discuss measures to help the hospitality sector to survive the effects of Covid-19; (2) Deputy Fergus O'Dowd - to discuss access to the summer provision in special schools and the transport...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate (7 Jul 2020)