Results 19,741-19,760 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (16 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 738. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to maintain the current level of special needs assistance support in a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23751/15]

Topical Issue Matters (11 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to advise the House of the following matters in respect of which notice has been given under Standing Order 27A and the name of the Member in each case: (1) Deputies Sean Fleming, Brian Stanley and Martin Heydon - the future of acute services at the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise, County Laois; (2) Deputy Tommy Broughan - the need to allocate funding to the Dublin local...

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The next speaker is Deputy Dowds, who I understand is sharing his 20-minute slot with Deputies Conaghan and Costello, who will take five minutes each.

Industrial Relations (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) (11 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It will.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (11 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 26. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the technical report prepared by his Department in relation to the tests carried out on the concrete blocks which are affected by mica in County Donegal; if he has made a decision on how his Department will assist affected home owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22325/15]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Building Regulations (11 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 41. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will outline any considerations he and his Department have given to the issue of mica-affected homes in County Donegal; if he will outline his Department's advice on the way affected householders might be able to proceed in engaging with his Department on this issue; the financial supports there are for persons who...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister's answer is in no way acceptable. This is not a complicated problem. It may not be possible in her local polling station to find alternatives.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: That may be an example, and that is grand. In cases where there is not an alternative available there is no problem with the school closing but this problem does not require a commission to be established. It does not require putting forward the idea that this involves moving to Saturday polling instead. What is generally required is a proper audit and assessment in each area as to whether...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: We are ignoring that. Instead, the Minister is talking about considering having referenda on a Saturday or that the commission should consider it but she, as Minister for Education and Skills, is refusing to grasp this nettle and engage-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: She is. She should engage with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and ensure there is real change and a real assessment so that this situation will not arise again.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: That is the situation at the moment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the number of schools which had to close on 22 May 2015 due to their use as polling stations for the referendums; if she will provide details on the impact this has on lost school days; if she will agree to liaise with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to draw up a plan to find alternative venues for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The question asks, particularly in light of the recent referendums and the use, once more, of many primary schools across the country as polling stations, the Minister's views on the use of primary schools, the impact on the education system and the cost of losing out on a day's teaching as a result of schools being closed. How many schools were involved in polling activities? Will the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister does not need to set up or ask a commission for an opinion in order to make a decision on what she believes is the most practical place for a polling station. I am very disappointed in the reply she has given, as the Minister has really not engaged in any way on the question I put for consideration. She has diverted the issue to the Minister for the Environment, Community and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: In my rough estimation, it costs up to approximately €20 million per day to run our primary schools across the country. There have been seven referendums or elections since the last general election, with one polling day on a Saturday. At least half the primary schools, in my rough assessment, were closed across the country for use as polling stations. That would mean at least...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 1. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on recent comments by a person (details supplied) of the Higher Education Authority that due to the shortfall of capital and staff investment in the higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22322/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I seek the Minister's views on the recent comments by the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority, Mr. Tom Boland, that owing to the shortfall in capital and staff investment in our higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed by the anaemic detail provided in the Minister's response. There is a real crisis in our third level sector. As pointed out by Mr. Boland in his commentary, there has been a 15% increase in third level student numbers over the past five years and alongside that, a 12% reduction in staff numbers. Overall, there was a 24% reduction, per student, in State funding during that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I understand the group chaired by Mr. Cassells will not report until the end of this year. I seek the views of the Minister on the comments of the HEA chief executive in relation to whether it is acceptable to continue to expect colleges to accept further students without provision of the necessary funding to cater for them. I ask the Minister to address that specific point.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: We all recall the promise made by the Labour Party in advance of the last general election, namely, that it would reduce the student contribution fee to €1,500. Instead, what has happened is that each student attending third level education is now being asked to pay €3,000, which is twice the fee to which the Labour Party committed prior to the last general election. Also, not...