Darren O'Rourke

I mentioned FUSS Ireland and the Equality in Education group, but across the length and breadth of this State, parents are fighting for their children. That should be leveraged. The Minister of State should work with them and deliver for them.

I will, thanks.

78. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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 …

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 Minister outl…

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 during Questi…

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 legal cases ag…

80. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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 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?

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 of State is choosing…

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 Government's …

95. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth 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]

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 year. The sec…

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 afford new d…

The credit unions did that before.

No, we are not.

9. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs will next meet. [37507/25]

The Taoiseach's argument consistently has been that we need to wait for the European Union to act in unison as regards sanctions against Israel. It is now clear and widely reported that there is no requirement for unanimity. What measures will the Government take, along with other countries, and what other countries are they, to enforce meaningful sanctions on Israel?

15. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach to report on his discussions with the new Canadian Prime Minister. [37508/25]

The concerns regarding CETA concern the ISDS and the investor court system. Canada has significant investment in the fossil fuel industry in Ireland. I am interested in green energy and the opportunity for research, development and co-operation with Canada. Those are legitimate concerns that relate to Canada and they need to be addressed. What are the plans for co-operation with Canada in research…

We did not say that. We only asked half the questions, is that it?

We only asked half the questions.

You could say that about a lot of places.

20. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Taoiseach when the Cabinet committee on housing will next meet. [33553/25]

One of the big issues we face is acknowledged to be water infrastructure. I bring to the Taoiseach's attention water infrastructure challenges in County Meath, namely the water mains in Duleek, where there are repeated outages, including two in the past five days, and the water treatment capacity in Kells. Regarding Duleek, we met with Uisce Éireann a number of weeks ago. There is a commitment to …

Today, we discuss a painful chapter in the State's history, namely, the systemic failure to protect children from sexual abuse within day and boarding schools. Sinn Féin welcomes the establishment of the commission of investigation. We also welcome the fact that the terms of reference include all survivors, regardless of whether they attended a religious or non-religious school or institution. The…