Results 121-140 of 1,054,074 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Rory O'Hanlon OR speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Éamon Ó Cuív OR speaker:Stephen Donnelly OR speaker:Aengus Ó Snodaigh27)

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Mary Butler: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: The investment in children's welfare, mental health and dignity at school is never a waste of money. If this helps one young person in a school who has had difficulties, for example, with the use of mobile phones in schools, is it not a progressive and practical initiative to help support young people and their learning in schools? This policy is underpinned by clear evidence...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Nonsense.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: That is the purpose of this investment. If you take it in the context of our wider investment in education through this budget, we are investing €2.9 billion in special education, we are extending the provision of free schoolbooks to all students in the senior cycle and a €75 million increase to capitation funding. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has secured that but she is also...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: We did, yes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: -----by the enormous damage caused by smartphone use during the day? This will make an impact and a difference. We should never play politics when it comes to the investment in our young people and in initiatives that will help their mental health and well-being. That is what is at the centre of this initiative that the Minister, Deputy Foley, has sought to do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Is the Minister for real? Seriously? Talk to any parent out there who has a child with mental health difficulties and show me one of them who says their priority, instead of getting somebody who will help them, is getting a magnetic phone pouch that is going to cost the State €9 million?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Louise O'Reilly: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Pearse Doherty: The Minister's Government has underfunded mental health for years. Do not try and wrap this vanity project up as some of way of supporting hard-pressed parents who know that their children are being let down over and over again. If the Minister wants to ban mobile phones, tell the kids to leave them in their pockets. Do not spend €9 million on pouches. It makes no sense at a time...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Thank you, Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Put the €9 million, if you want, into the services that parents are demanding and screaming out for with regard to mental health supports.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Thank you, Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Pearse Doherty: We need therapists, people who can see them, instead of waiting not only for months, but in some cases for years to see a practitioner.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Sorca Clarke: Hear, hear.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Again, Sinn Féin's populist politics is driven by anger, with a shallow attack on an initiative that will make a difference. This is part of a wider well-being and mental health policy in schools. If Deputy Doherty looked at all the international research from the UN and others, this makes a difference when it is being introduced.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: You have not said anything about-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: Smartphone bans in schools have an impact on young people's mental health.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Pearse Doherty: Do not spend €9 million.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Jack Chambers: As I said previously, an investment in children's welfare, in their mental health and well-being in schools is not a waste of money.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Oct 2024)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh: The Minister is not talking about the phone pouches.