Results 3,921-3,940 of 23,975 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (26 Feb 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence (details supplied) from parents of children with Down's syndrome; her plans to provide children with Down's syndrome with an individualised right to resource teaching hours, outside the general allocation system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8546/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the revised set of compromise measures on junior cycle reform submitted to teachers' unions for consideration; the measures being taken to avoid further strike action; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9019/15]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Minister provide details of the revised set of compromise measures on junior cycle reform submitted to teachers' unions for their consideration and the measures, if any, she is taking to avoid further strike action?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It is disappointing that the Minister has not achieved a resolution. It is particularly disappointing to see her indicate in the last few days that it is her intention to push on with the reforms, regardless of whether there is agreement with the teaching partners. I welcome the fact that the teaching unions indicated they were not going to proceed with further strike action. However, they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Does the Minister agree that the initial proposals pushed through by her predecessor without consultation were incorrect? That she has taken a different approach indicates as much. Will she try to re-engage with the unions and ensure that agreement is reached on genuine outstanding issues?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Unfortunately, we are further behind in the delivery of junior certificate reform than we were when the Government entered office. A large part of that lies at the door of this Government and the Minister's predecessor, Deputy Quinn, in deciding to move away from an agreed working document on how to deliver reform, to introduce his own proposals on doing away with the examination and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will clarify the situation regarding resource teaching hours for children with Down's syndrome who have a mild general learning disability; if she will urgently put the resources in place to ensure that children with Down's syndrome who have a mild general learning disability will receive the same resource teaching as pupils with a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The purpose of this question is to ask the Minister if she will clarify the situation regarding resource teaching hours for children with Down's syndrome who have mild learning disabilities and if she will provide an update on whether the necessary resources will be put in place to ensure that these children will have access to dedicated resource teaching hours from September next. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the Minister's comment to the effect that she is continuing to give consideration to this matter. However, it is disappointing that a decision has not already been made. A great deal of consideration was given to this matter by the Minister's predecessor. Parents of children with Down's syndrome who are designated as having a mild intellectual disability were hopeful that the new...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree with the Minister on the concerns which many people harbour in respect of the new model. It is appropriate that the implementation of the latter has been delayed. I am of the view that it should be the subject of a strict examination in the context of how it will work in practice in order to ensure that it will not place certain schools at a disadvantage or lead to a deterioration...

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the value for money report and policy review of small schools, recently published by her Department; her further views on the report’s recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8834/15]

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: My question is to ask the Minister her views on the value-for-money report and policy review of small schools recently published by her Department, her intentions as a result of the publication of that report and mindful of the cuts which this Government has already implemented in small schools over the past four years.

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister is indicating that she does not agree with many of the proposals in the value-for-money report. However, the actions of her Government over the past four years would indicate a very different view. Over that time there have been systematic cuts to the pupil-teacher thresholds in small schools. One half of the number of small schools have fewer than five teachers. I refer to...

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The reality is that the Government is seeking the closure and amalgamation of many small schools. That is what the Department's policy has been designed to achieve. The Minister may talk about a voluntary protocol, but the protocol the Government has followed has involved cuts to pupil-teacher thresholds such that half of primary schools which have four or fewer teachers have seen posts...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of ongoing discussions between her Department and the Data Protection Commissioner on data protection issues relating to the primary online database; and her plans to remove funding to schools for pupils whose parents do not wish to include their details in the primary online database. [8835/15]

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: This question refers to ongoing discussions between the Department and the Data Protection Commissioner on data protection issues relating to the new primary online database. Will the Minister elaborate on her plans to remove funding from schools for pupils whose parents do not wish to include their children's details in the database? There is much concern about how schools will be treated...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for her response. This issue has been poorly handled by the Department of Education and Skills from the outset. It appears as though it went about seeking this information without first clarifying and seeking authority from the Data Protection Commissioner in terms of assurances that what the Department was doing actually complied properly with the Acts. Is it correct...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: Over time, people are becoming increasingly concerned and protective as to how personal information is provided and regarding the purpose for which it is used. Parents are aware that information gathered under the POD system, to which schools also will have access, will be retained by the Department until the child is 30 years of age. That behoves the Department to ensure the way it goes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding resource teaching hours for children with Down syndrome who have a mild general learning disability; and if she will urgently put resources in place to ensure that children with Down syndrome who have a mild general learning disability will receive the same resource teaching as pupils with a moderate general learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (3 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 138. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the proposal to merge Cork Institute of Technology, County Cork, and Tralee Institute of Technology, County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8836/15]