Darren O'Rourke

8. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education how she intends to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí; if it is her commitment, as it was her predecessor’s, to “work towards doubling the number of young people currently in Irish-medium schools” (details supplied); and if she will make a state…

How does the Minister intend to deliver on the programme for Government commitment to expand opportunities for students to attend Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí? Is it her commitment, as it was her predecessor's, to work towards increasing the number of young people currently in Irish-medium schools, as was committed to in the previous programme for Government but is not committed to in the curr…

What is needed is action. I appreciate the action plan and the survey have roles in that regard. I emphasised in my question a number of pieces that were included in the previous programme for Government but are not included in the current one, including increasing the emphasis on spoken Irish in the classroom, working towards the doubling of the number of young people currently in Irish-medium sc…

I thank the Minister. It is all about action on this issue. In the area the Minister and I represent, there is appetite for this. In south Meath are Gaelscoil na Rithe, Gaelscoil Thulach na nÓg, Gaelscoil na Mí and Gaelscoil na Cille. There is a thriving Irish-language community at primary level and yet while we repeatedly built secondary schools in that area, none of them have been Gaelcholáistí.…

The failures in disability services in providing supports and services and dignity for people with disabilities is Ireland's great shame. It is a shameful disgrace, and it is a disgrace that lies on the shoulders of successive Governments. I listened to a very powerful testimony from a couple from Dublin on the "Oliver Callan" show on Friday. They talked about how they were advised to get out of I…

82. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications for an update on the national hydrogen strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6406/25]

I ask the Minister for an update on the national hydrogen strategy and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Concern has been expressed, including by Hydrogen Ireland, that there is an urgent need for progress on the strategy. The strategy was welcomed and we published legislation in the previous Dáil term for it to be prepared. We welcomed it when it was prepared. It is then a matter of making it happen. There is concern that there has not been enough progress to date. While I welcome the pieces that ha…

The message from everybody would be to keep at that work and to ensure that those timelines are met. We must show Ireland, the stakeholders here, and the world that Ireland is going to be a leader in the area of green hydrogen. The potential is there, particularly with the offshore potential that we have but again, that needs to be delivered. The energy security review is ongoing and we await the…

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this issue. AI is an incredibly powerful technology. I welcome the appointment of a Minister of State with responsibility for it. It requires a whole-of-government approach and response because this technology has incredible potential but needs to be managed in the right way. There are real risks. We are trying to get our heads around the potential of this tec…

I move: That Dáil Éireann: recognises: — the fundamental right of every child to access the education system; — the current and projected demand for special education placements is growing; — the current shortage of special classes and appropriate school places, leaving children, particularly those with additional needs, without access to suitable education; — the trauma and absolute heartbr…

I thank everyone who contributed to this debate. Earlier I met people from Waterford with Deputies David Cullinane and Conor D. McGuinness and people from Laois with Senator Maria McCormack. A number of people have contacted us through different forums. What we hear from parents, which is something they want the Minister to hear, is that they feel that their children are being left behind. What th…

I extend my condolences and deepest sympathies to all the families and loved ones who have lost somebody on the roads, in particular in the last year. The Minister spelled it out: there is a large number of contributing factors and there are measures the Government can take in response, be they engineering, roads funding, and the use of improved technologies. However, ultimately the major factor i…

This is my first time speaking in the Thirty-fourth Dáil. I want to thank friends, family, supporters and everyone who worked on my campaign. I particularly thank the people of Meath East for their support and encouragement and for giving me the real privilege, honour and opportunity to continue to represent them. I will do my very best to repay their trust. I welcome the opportunity to comment o…