Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

International Students

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

513. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reduction in the number of international students expected to attend third level institutions here in the 2020-21 academic year than in the previous academic year. [14651/20]

International Students

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

514. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated number of students who will defer a course in third level institutions in the 2020-21 academic year compared to the previous academic year. [14652/20]

Student Universal Support Ireland

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

515. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she is considering expanding SUSI to take into consideration the fact that it has not been increased in recent years and in view of the uncertain employment situations of many workers at this point. [14653/20]

Third Level Institutions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

516. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if further consideration has been given to or the status of a financial package for the third-level institutions; and if so, if it will include increased SUSI, HEAR, DARE and Access funding to ensure expansion of access to third-level education. [14654/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

517. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which adequate space will be ensured in the CAO process for the 2021-22 academic year, in view of the fact that there may be an increase in deferred applications and an increase in international places, to ensure that those studying the leaving certificate in 2020-21 will have adequate access. [14655/20]

Third Level Admissions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

518. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether there will be additional places available in third level places through the CAO process in 2020; and if so, the number. [14656/20]

Quality and Qualifications Ireland

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

592. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the fact that an organisation (details supplied) provides chainsaw and arboricultural qualifications to a much higher standard than that which is available here at present yet are not recognised here; her further views on the UK-based qualifications recognised here that fall under the jurisdiction of UK courts and may not align to the European qualifications framework after Brexit; and her views on the speedy approval and recognition of the qualifications here in line with the co-operation agreement between Quality and Qualifications Ireland and the Education Bureau of Hong Kong. [15212/20]

Youthreach Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

619. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if statistics on the ethnic background of children accessing Youthreach programmes are available and if so, if they will be provided by ethnicity. [15359/20]

State Examinations

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

622. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the timing for the sitting of the leaving certificate 2020; if it will be completed in time for college intake in September and October 2020; if not, if these students will be categorised as deferred entrants for the 2021 college intake; and if so, if they will have more than one choice available to them on the CAO system. [15379/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

646. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the amount that will be required in additional funding for schools to cover issues related to Covid-19 hygiene by category of expenditure, item and sector; and the basis of the €25 million quoted in media accounts from Departmental sources. [15648/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

647. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be provided for additional full-time cleaning staff in schools that currently have none; and the typical cost to schools for a full-time cleaner. [15649/20]

School Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

648. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the budget for school substitutes by 5%, 10%, 20% and 25%, respectively. [15650/20]

School Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

649. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of increasing the budget for release days for teaching principals by 5%, 10% and 20%; and if she will consider investing in additional leadership positions within schools to facilitate principals in prioritising ensuring that schools are Covid-19 safe. [15651/20]

School Transport

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

650. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she has considered that the cost of delivering school transport to eligible children will increase considerably due to Covid-19 restrictions; the increased cost expected to ensure a place for the same number of children as 2019. [15652/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

651. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills whether additional funding for Covid-19-related school costs will cover all costs, including refuse and partitions. [15653/20]

School Funding

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

652. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual budget for information technology equipment for primary and secondary schools; the number of devices purchased from this per annum by category; and the estimated cost of increasing same by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%, respectively. [15654/20]

Pupil-Teacher Ratio

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

657. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost per annum to reduce the pupil-teacher ratio in primary and post-primary schools by one point and five points, respectively. [15731/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

658. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether it will be necessary to reduce class sizes in order to facilitate the distancing required for a return to school; the estimated number of additional teaching staff required to facilitate distancing; and the estimated increased cost for same. [15732/20]

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

663. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of hiring ten additional home-school community liaison teachers. [15850/20]

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

664. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of ensuring there is one home-school community liaison teacher for each school currently without such a teacher; and the estimated cost of providing one such teacher for every three and five schools, respectively. [15851/20]

Home School Community Liaison Scheme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

665. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on whether there will be a need for home-school community liaison teachers due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. [15852/20]

School Facilities

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

682. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and post-primary schools that have access to adequate hot water; the estimated cost to ensure that every school has hot water; and if all schools will have access to hot water in view of the current pandemic. [16000/20]

Schools Data

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

855. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if statistics on the ethnicity of students expelled and suspended from all schools is available; and his views on his Department recording such statistics to ensure that potential biases can be adequately monitored. [15359/20]

Home Help Service

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

996. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the home help waiting lists in the various community health organisations by CHO area. [14657/20]

Respite Care Services

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

1315. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to plans to restore or increase respite hours in the Cork area for families of children with special needs that had been reduced or paused during the Covid-19 pandemic, with particular reference, but not exclusively, to the respite services at Garretstown. [16030/20]

Language Schools

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

453. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the issues facing the language school sector in view of the fact that 70% of its revenue is generated during their peak season from March to September but the schools have remained closed during this time; the supports which will be put in place to assist English language teaching organisations with these issues; and when these schools can reopen in view of the fact that they have not been included in the Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. [14345/20]

Student Support Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

454. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the difficulties many students at third-level who have limited broadband capacity at home will face while attempting to partake in online lectures and study; and the provisions that can be put in place to support these students and ensure that their access to third-level education is not restricted due to poor Internet connection in their areas. [14346/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

455. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the situation in a school (details supplied) which is experiencing demand on special educational resources that far exceed supply of SNAs; and if she will support the application for an additional SNA allocation at the school. [14347/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

456. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views regarding the situation of those children with additional learning needs who attend a school (details supplied) but due to lack of proper facilities and the ongoing delays in the completion of the new school project are accommodated almost 20km away. [14353/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

457. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of an ongoing delay at a school (details supplied); and if she will intervene to ensure this is resolved for the opening in September 2020. [14354/20]

Medical Aids and Appliances

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

518. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will release the findings of the Review of the FreeStyle Libre glucose monitoring system undertaken by his Department in 2019; and if he will consider extending the availability of the FreeStyle Libre to all persons with Type 1 diabetes [13403/20]

Third Level Admissions

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

276. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he has engaged with universities on extending flexibility for mature students accessing third level in view of the uncertainty caused by the calculated grades system. [12610/20]

School Facilities

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

278. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the urgent need for a hall and PE facilities for a school (details supplied); and the application for funding for same will be considered favourably. [12618/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

279. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions put in place to ensure the return to school will be safe. [12620/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

280. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be additional funding allocated to fully take account of additional hygiene and refuse costs incurred by schools upon their return; and if the schools will not have to meet the additional cost. [12624/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

281. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that children or teachers with low immune systems will be nervous returning to school; and if provision has been put in place to address these concerns. [12625/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

282. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers and schools that have signed up to the July provision scheme to date; and the number of teachers that will be required to meet the needs of the 20,000 children he has committed to providing summer tuition for. [12626/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

283. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the capacity planning done in advance of the July provision scheme being announced; and the way in which social distancing, handwashing practices and the use of PPE will be implemented during the July provision scheme. [12627/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

284. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional funding will be provided to ensure that schools are deep cleaned before children return for the July provision and that staff are properly equipped with PPE. [12628/20]

Covid-19 Pandemic

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

285. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if additional staff will be employed to provide support in view of the social distancing and hygiene measures required; and if staff will be provided with training on the way in which to properly use PPE. [12629/20]

Special Educational Needs Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

286. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the fact that teachers and SNAs who sign up to deliver the July provision will not be paid for their work until November 2020; if he will rectify the current payment system to incentivise teachers to take on this role; and if substitute teachers who are delivering the July provision can receive the pandemic payment at the same time. [12621/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

287. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions made through the July provision programme to reintroduce children to social activities and the school environment in view of the fact that many have been isolating at home since March 2020. [12622/20]

School Transport

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

288. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount that will be allocated on school transport grants for students taking part in the July provision; the provision put in place to ensure social distancing is maintained on the transport; and if additional funding will be allocated to ensure that buses and so on will be cleaned each day. [12623/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

289. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider allowing retired teachers and student teachers to provide the July provision. [12630/20]

School Staff

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

290. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the situation in a school (details supplied) that will soon lose a teacher, leaving three classes to be taught in one classroom; and if he will consider maintaining the current number of teachers in the school in view of the pressures that will be on schools when they return and the need to maintain social distancing within classrooms. [12632/20]

Special Educational Needs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

401. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health if he will provide further details on the HSE-led July programme, including when this programme will take place; the timeframe of the programme; and the person or body that will be given priority in the allocation of a place on the programme. [12631/20]

Health Screening Programmes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

564. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Health the reason HSE cervical screening services remain paused (details supplied); when he plans to resume essential cervical screening appointments. [12605/20]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

860. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on the school meals programme per annum; and the amount this equates to per child. [12633/20]

School Meals Programme

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

861. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will consider extending the school meals programme over the summer months. [12634/20]

Ministerial Communications

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

24. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has or will communicate to the President of the United States of America the alarm and anger regarding incidents of racist police brutality and killings, the use of violent force and plastic bullets against protesters, threats to use the military against protestors and at the use of force against members of the press; and his views on whether several fundamental human rights have been and are being broken by the actions of the US. [10117/20]