Results 19,501-19,520 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (6 Oct 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 661. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline her plans to make the student grant scheme more accessible by allowing those who are self-employed and experiencing a significant downturn in business to apply their current accounts in a change of circumstance (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34475/15]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Programmes (6 Oct 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 758. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a review for a certificate in professional competence in transport management courses has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34022/15]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (1 Oct 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 110. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal under an area aid application for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33731/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Administration (1 Oct 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current average waiting time for a child to be assessed by the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will provide, in tabular form, the average waiting times for each individual year from 2010 to 2014. [33751/15]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister, Minister of State and officials for coming here and being generous with their time and information. Regarding the departmental output tables, I have a question on school transport services. I refer to the targets and outputs, items Nos. 4 and 5, the number of students provided with school transport services and the number of school transport routes. The target and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Again, looking at the 2013 target and output, the 2013 target was 6,000 school transport routes, but there were 6,500. That is significant, a 500 additional route output beyond the target. However, the 2014 target was again 6,000 and the report states that target was achieved. Now, the target is again 6,000. There are 500 additional routes in the figures. What are those 500 routes about?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: There were 500 routes above 6,000. Does that mean there has been an 8% change in the number of routes?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It seems we are at 8% fewer routes than in 2013, an exceptionally high figure. I am wondering how this has come about.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: My point is there are 500 fewer routes, which means a change of approximately 8%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Senator Moloney mentioned teaching posts in special schools. The 2014 target was 1,100 but there were 1,387 teachers in special schools, 287 above the target, yet at the start of 2015, the target was only 1,100. That means the target for this year for teachers in special schools was 20% less than what was in place last September. That is massive, but the point was not well addressed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I do not think the answer was very clear.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I will follow on from the question about the annual recurring expenditure. In respect of the capital investment plan, which we saw published yesterday without any prior consultation on the headline figures, is the Minister willing to conduct a similar exercise in advance of the detail of how education capital investment will be spent over the coming five years in respect of what the options...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I question the value of using access to NEPS psychologists as an output measure. Access to a psychologist in no way reflects the extent or quality of access. I am surprised to see some schools do not have access to NEPS, let alone having to go on a waiting list. The Minister might clarify what exactly having no access means. Have those affected nobody to contact? I presume that is what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The technical universities Bill is listed as a target output for this year. The Minister might comment on its status and whether it is delayed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It is listed as one.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: My question is related to the point made by Deputy Joan Collins about outputs and I had intended to make it at the end of the previous round. I refer to the issue of patronage, that is, point 11. I believe the outputs were marked as being not available for this year. At the beginning of the tenure of the former Minister, Deputy Quinn, he indicated his hope that 50% of schools would change...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: There have been questions from three or four members. Does the Minister want to answer them now or should I ask mine?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I wanted to ask him a question as well.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2015: Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (30 Sep 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Perhaps I will put my question to the Minister of State briefly. He mentioned that the issue of school transport had been addressed, but he will be aware of a situation that I raised with him last summer. It has been determined that the nearest school is through a mountain pass that is not traversable. The students cannot use school transport and, as such, must pay to attend a school that...