Results 2,121-2,140 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It boils down to little more than a stunt by the Government to give the impression to the public that it is doing something big in terms of reform when it is doing nothing. The Government is going backwards. Instead of opening things up, it is shutting them down. The Dáil will be no different. The only difference is the Seanad will not be there. I hold no candle for the Seanad and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disability Allowance Applications (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 10. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants for the disadvantaged payments last year who had penalties imposed on them; the number who had a 100% penalty or disallowance imposed; the total number of applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29349/13]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 43. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the criteria used in determining eligibility for agri-environment option scheme 3; the number of farmers in each category that were allowed into the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29357/13]

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Dormant Accounts Fund Grants (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 146. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if there is funding available in 2013 through the dormant account distribution scheme; if applications for funding are being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29514/13]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State and his officials for attending the meeting to discuss this issue. While I understand the rationale for the proposal, I would like to put two or three questions to the Minister of State. What has been the experience in recent years in terms of student in-take at the college, including the number of students from a Protestant background who took up a post in a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I have a query regarding the Employment Equality Act 1998. Has there been such an order by the Minister previously? If this has not been in place for the past while, and given that there are 32 places in the college, has there been a problem obtaining a sufficient throughput of teachers who wish to teach in Protestant schools as part of that 32? I presume there must be if the order is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Church of Ireland College of Education Order 2013: Motion (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: So it is currently in place.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the SUSI officials for coming in and for the briefings provided in the past. The experience of the past year has been unfortunate, particularly for students. It has been a difficult year for SUSI officials getting the agency up and running. The Department of Education and Skills did not think it out in advance. Much of the work done by SUSI in terms of preparing for next year and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I will try to conclude. There are lessons there in respect of the delivery and establishment of public service reform and the Government needs to take account of it. Representatives from SUSI have pointed out that 118 cases are awaiting student documentation. How many cases have been appealed or are being reviewed at present? There is an issue of the applications in need of resolution...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Ms Stewart indicated that the publication of the grants scheme this year was two weeks ahead of its publication last year, which is welcome, but does she agree that this is still later than required to ensure the grants process moves as smoothly as possible? This has been a problem over the years but it has been a problem again last year and this year. Did Ms Stewart request the grant...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: On the renewal dates and flexibility on closing times, SUSI has indicated that the closing date for renewals has passed with some 16,000 having already renewed and they expect 26,000 renewals in total. Will they assure us that those who have not yet applied for a renewal will actually be considered and dealt with on their merits? The same applies to the closing date for new applicants,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not sure how this can be dealt with. There are 118 students dealing with estrangement or independent living who have been caught in a position where they have not yet received an answer. SUSI indicated that may have happened because of the terms of the grant scheme. We need to write to the Minister, flag the fact this issue was raised today and ask him to engage with SUSI. I do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister will engage-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like clarity on the 543 appeals cases. Most are fresh appeals and are two or three weeks old. Where do those students stand in terms of exam results? Will they be unable to get them pending an appeal? Is that something the Minister needs to engage on with the HEA in terms of how colleges handle the matter?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a good and important initiative to make the Department and the HEA aware of the decision and also to inform the colleges of the situation. Whether or not they get the final papers, it is important that their colleges give them their exam results. No student should be in the situation of not knowing his or her exam result because there is a delay on a final decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree. It is important to have clarity on this point. I suggest this be noted in the letter to the Minister so that some arrangement can be made to ensure students are not in the dark, so to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I join with previous speakers in welcoming Mr. Kevin Walshe and I commend him for his work and initiative in submitting his petition and getting it to this stage. It is great to see the Oireachtas being open to average citizens to come here and have an audience with legislators and those who set policy and with departmental officials who are responsible for overseeing it, and suggesting...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Yesterday, the truth of the Government's cut to students with special needs became clear when the National Council for Special Education announced that the 42,500 special needs students will have their allocation of resulting hours cut by 12% at the start of the new school term. This means that children with autism, severe emotional disturbance, severe learning disabilities and assessed...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, this is a very serious-----