Results 20,521-20,540 of 24,010 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Staffing (9 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to detail the current staffing levels in Student Universal Support Ireland compared to 2012 and 2013; the breakdown and roles of these staff members; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38703/14]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (9 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 267. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update on discussions he has had with his counterparts in Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom in respect of the heavy goods vehicle road user levy; if he will ensure that Republic of Ireland hauliers who use the A5 are exempt from the Northern Ireland road user charge that was implemented on 1 April 2014; and...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: -----will be much lower than it has been for many a year. That will hit farms' bottom lines. This position is not sustainable. If our agricultural sector is to produce and become a larger contributor to the economy, the Minister needs to adopt a different approach to the beef crisis than he has taken in the past year or two.

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to share time with Deputy Ó Cuív.

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like to support the motion as proposed by my party colleague, Deputy Ó Cuív. It is a timely motion because the last year has been very difficult for farming - I refer to beef farming, in particular - even though the weather has been more beneficial than it had been for many years. We all know the value of agriculture in general to our economy. It comprises €24...

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: With beef prices-----

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: The price that farmers have been getting for their produce has been decreasing as the cost of producing it has been increasing. As a result, many beef farms across the country are currently producing at a loss, or in many years are not doing much better than breaking even.

Agriculture Industry: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: Absolutely. I am sure the Minister has looked at average incomes across the country. For a number of the last few years, the average farm income in the BMW region has been approximately the same as the level of the single farm payment. The position is slightly different on the east coast, where single farm payments account for approximately 60% of the net incomes of farmers. For the BMW...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Proposed Special Educational Needs Model: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: When I talk to parents and teachers, one thing that seems to come up often is feedback to the effect that there seem to be a higher number of children with special needs and particular learning needs than there were five or ten years ago. This comes up often. I am unsure whether it is being identified more clearly now or what exactly the dynamic is, but I am keen to hear the views of our...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Proposed Special Educational Needs Model: Discussion (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank our guests for coming in today to discuss this matter and the work they put into their presentations. In particular, I thank the National Council for Special Education for the work that has gone into these proposals. I would like to follow up the presentations by asking a few questions. Can the representatives of the National Council for Special Education give some more information...

Other Questions: Third Level Funding (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy English, and acknowledge there are many fine universities in the State. I do not wish to suggest in any way that they are not so. However, the amount of funding provided to them is crucial to them being able to maintain the standards they have built up over many years. There has been significant pressure on them, which has been reflected in a number of...

Other Questions: Third Level Funding (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: At the very minimum, will the Government agree to leave that within the system, in order that universities are allowed to try to maintain the standards they built up so well over many years?

Other Questions: Schools Review (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 14. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the value for money report on small schools will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37959/14]

Other Questions: Schools Review (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: This is to ask the Minister when the value for money report on small schools will be published.

Other Questions: Schools Review (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister and acknowledge we discussed this matter briefly previously. This report rested on the desk of the Minister's predecessor for more than 18 months but I am now hearing the same story from the Minister as I heard from him during those 18 months, namely, the Minister intends to consider it but she is not setting a deadline regarding its publication. Meanwhile, the number...

Other Questions: Schools Review (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: After 18 months of this report being on the Department's desk, the fact that the current Minister is merely in the process of reading it demonstrates this is an issue about which the Government has no real intention of having an honest debate or of publishing, in order that everyone can address it. I reiterate that a key feature of the Government has been the pressure it has mounted on four,...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 11. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on her discussions on junior cycle reform with the teacher unions; her views on the fact that 10% of English teachers had not undertaken training on the new curriculum in advance of the introduction of English in schools last month. [37960/14]

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: My question asks the Minister to provide an update on her discussions on junior cycle reform with the teacher unions and to give her opinion on the fact that 10% of English teachers had not undertaken training on the new curriculum in advance of her decision to proceed with its introduction last month.

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: This has turned into a sorry saga, one that could have been avoided had it been handled differently by the Minister's predecessor or had she taken a more hands-on approach after taking up the reins. The former Minister, Deputy Quinn, took a bullish and single-minded approach to reform but if reform is to be delivered appropriately, it is important that it be undertaken in partnership with...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister. She also replied to my question on the issue of the take-up of professional development in advance of the introduction of the new curriculum. She indicated that she believed 90% was a high rate. However, in advance of the introduction of a new school curriculum, all teachers who will teach it should take up and complete professional development and training on it. A...