Results 2,241-2,260 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: In his final reply I ask the Minister to outline why neither he nor one of his Ministers of State was available to be present in the Dáil last Wednesday night for the debate on the Private Members' motion. I would be pleased if the Minister could provide some evidence to back up his case. So far we have seen nothing in that regard from him other than an assertion that there has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Does the Minister have any explanation as to why he was not present last Wednesday night?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Student Universal Support Ireland applications for 2012-13 still to receive a final answer; the number of appeals outstanding; the steps he has taken to ensure students are not refused access to examination results due to not having a final answer on their grant application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32545/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: At the outset, I wish to recap precisely what the experience with SUSI has been. In the past year, more than half or approximately 20,000 students did not get paid their first grant instalment until the new year. Parents and families have experienced exceptional hardship in a difficult time with the single biggest cause of hardship being the mishandling by the Minister and his Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: As for the remaining cases, can the Minister clarify further what precisely is the position with regard to them getting their examination results? Can the Minister give Members a deadline as to when they all will be cleared and will have final answers?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: In his response, the Minister has just shown how he has completely failed to handle this issue since he introduced the SUSI system.. He has just told me SUSI is not responsible for handling postgraduate students when it is responsible and has been dealing with it since last September. This is the very body the Minister set up but one year later, he stands here still not understanding...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister but in his response, the Minister has displayed his lack of a handle on this issue since the outset. He has shown he does not understand there could be a postgraduate student who only got sorted out in the last couple of days. In the case I cited to the Minister, a postgraduate student has not been able to access that individual's college facilities to complete the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Can the Minister give Members a final deadline as to when those students who already have completed their examinations and whose examinations already have been corrected will finally receive an answer from SUSI, the body the Minister has established and of which he has made a mess? Can he give Members an answer as to when the students will get an answer on whether they qualify for a grant?

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for his reply. My party has welcomed that report. We believe massive progress has been made on special education in the past 15 years in particular. An examination of the way we allocate resources is very important but it is crucial that we ensure it does not lead to any reduction in the resources and money provided nor any reduction of the services to students who...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for that reply. It leaves a lot to be desired in terms of ensuring smooth transition from primary level to secondary level. Has the Minister undertaken any initiatives or any policy change he is working on, apart from the overall review the National Council for Special Education has been tasked with, to try to enhance the smooth switch-over from primary to secondary...

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Minister indicate why schools and principals were only informed last week about the allocation of resource teaching hours and those relating to special needs assistants, SNAs, for the coming school year? I understand that the allocation regarding resource teaching was available four weeks in advance of the provision relating to SNAs. Why were both not released together?

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It was reported widely in the newspapers that the Minister's Department specifically asked the National Council for Special Education not to release the resource teaching allocations for a period of three to four weeks. Those allocations only arrived after the commencement of the school holidays. This has created immense difficulties in the context of trying to match up resource teaching...

Other Questions: State Examinations Issues (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I too have grave concerns about the way the Minister is reforming the junior certificate. There is a need for an impartial examination which can have a benefit in ensuring standards throughout the country. That is crucial. As Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan pointed out, teachers routinely correct examinations. In terms of whether the junior certificate is a high stakes examination anymore, it...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for the clarification. I take it from his response that he is planning to hire up to 500 additional teachers in the autumn to meet what may be additional demand.

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: In a previous response in the Dáil today the Minister indicated that he did not expect any overall change in the number of resource teachers in the system, so the two statements are contradictory. He has brought forward the 500 places from the autumn to now to ensure the extra 12% in demand is met, and there was no clarity until now as to whether the Minister would increase the overall...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am quite concerned by the Minister's response indicating that the only place to find the money was in the pupil-teacher ratio. It seems to be the only area identified so far, and the Minister has not yet given us an assurance that he will not go down that path. I remind the Minister of what he said when he stood where I am as Opposition spokesperson for education seeking the job he has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 94. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of hours a permanent special needs assistant in a primary school is required to work on a weekly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32377/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether the total number of hours a permanent special needs assistant in a primary school works is inclusive or exclusive of tea breaks and lunch breaks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32379/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow is being asked for a financial contribution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32451/13]

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: School Completion Programme (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 202. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is committed to retaining funding for the school completion programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25499/13]