Results 141-160 of 1,014,411 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Thomas Byrne
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: 59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the minor works grant; when she expects this to be paid this year for schools in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16156/24]
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor: I am looking for an update on the minor works grant. When does the Minister expect this to be paid for schools in Carlow? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?
- Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Grant Payments (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: Since 2020, the Department of Education has invested in the region of €4.5 billion to add capacity and develop and upgrade school facilities around the country for the almost 1 million students and, importantly, the 100,000 staff who learn and work in our schools. The minor works grant is one important element of a record level of capital investment in school infrastructure. The...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)
Sorca Clarke: I understand the financials that the Minister has issued and has spoken about, but I still do not hear a definitive number for what the increase in capacity will be. People, particularly those outside urban areas, are choosing to come to live in smaller towns and villages. They are most welcome to leave the bigger cities, set up in those towns and villages, make them their homes and work...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Accommodation (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: As previously outlined, there are 314 school planning areas, or just school areas, if you like. The planning and building unit would say that in less than ten of those school areas are there challenges and difficulties for people. I want to say clearly that I do not for one minute underestimate the stress and challenge that presents for parents who are intent on and need to get their...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
School Staff
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Gary Gannon: 57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her current and future actions to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in primary and secondary schools in the wake of Ireland’s annual teacher conferences which took place recently. [16490/24]
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Gary Gannon: I ask the Minister the measures she is taking to reduce the teacher shortage crisis that we are experiencing in primary and secondary schools.
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: We are on a roll of congratulations, so I want to congratulate the Deputy on his recent marriage. I wish him well. Ensuring that every child's experience in school is positive and that they have qualified, engaged teachers available to support them in their learning is a key priority area of action for the Government. In budget 2024, a variety of commitments have been given, which...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Gary Gannon: I thank the Minister for her kind words and subsequently the contribution that she made to the debate. I do not think we can step away from the fact that we have a crisis in our schools that is once again impacting the most vulnerable cohorts of students. If schools are short of teachers, it means that there is a shortage in special educational needs allocation. It means that students in...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: The PME.
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Gary Gannon: The PME. From the conversations I have had with people who want to engage in the profession, that is just not enough. One of the prohibitive factors is the time it takes to do the PME. It is two years. In the North, it is only one year and costs substantially less. Two years means that a person is without an income. Permanent contracts, proper investment in special educational needs and...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Catherine Connolly: The Deputy is way over time. He will get a chance to come back in.
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: I thank the Deputy. With regard to the PME, the €2,000 is a significant start and gesture.
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Gary Gannon: It is.
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: I appreciate that we would all want it to be greater. It is a very good indication of what we had available to us that we would acknowledge the challenges that people face and that that bursary would be made available. On the support for special educational needs, 27% of the entire budget of the Department is spent on special education. That is as it should be. It is more than €2.7...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Gary Gannon: We still have a scenario where a teacher will need to do three years in order to get a permanent contract. You cannot expect people to move job or to move into the teaching profession if they know there will be instability in their life for three years. Permanent contracts are going to be essential. The €2,000 package for the PME is very welcome. However, in Dublin and other...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Staff (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: On permanent contracts, there is a pathway forward. In fact, after two years, people are into permanent contracts, or what are called contracts of indefinite duration. There is a clear pathway. On costs, I appreciate the €2,000 for the professional master of education is a start. The additional courses like upskilling courses are across a wide variety of different subject areas...
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (16 Apr 2024)
Aodhán Ó Ríordáin: I thank the Minister for her kind words. It is very much appreciated by my family, to whom education means the world, that the Minister for Education mentioned my daughter on the floor of the House. Her sister Anna is very excited. On the matter at hand, the INTO has spoken at its recent conference about 2,000 long-term vacancies within the primary school sector, as the Minister knows....
- Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Sector Pay (16 Apr 2024)
Norma Foley: Housing, led by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, remains a key priority of the Government. The strategy Housing for All delivers on the programme for Government commitment to step up housing supply and put affordability at the heart of the housing system. A suite of measures, including cost-rental, affordable and social housing, is being...