Results 1,521-1,540 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Education Funding: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: Will that be 33,000 paid?

Education Funding: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: Last night the Minister, Deputy Quinn, said it would be 33,000 confirmed.

Education Funding: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank all Members who spoke on this motion and for the support of Deputy O’Brien’s party and the Independents. I must also acknowledge the efforts of Deputy O’Brien and the chairman of the education committee, Deputy Tuffy, for bringing SUSI before the committee to get to the bottom of this matter. This is what the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and his political team and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with members of the Northern Ireland Executive and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to the threat of violence by persons or groups commonly referred to as dissidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50182/12]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Forthcoming Education, Youth and Culture Council: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister referred to Annex 1 for the budget on Erasmus for All. It is at the back of the presentation. I have the same difficulty as the Senator.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Forthcoming Education, Youth and Culture Council: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the Minister and his officials. I thank the Minister for giving the overview of the education issues he hopes to work on and progress as part of the country's Presidency. As is the case with many Departments there are some issues in education on which we must work together at European level and one of those is the funding for the Erasmus programme. I welcome that that will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Social, Personal and Health Education Curriculum: Discussion with Comhairle na nÓg (14 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: I join colleagues in welcoming the representatives and I thank them for taking the time to discuss these two important issues with us and to update us on their work. They had a successful showcase earlier this month in Croke Park, which was attended by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and Dáil na nÓg delegates from all over the country. I congratulate...

Order of Business (15 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: I refer to the Education and Training Boards Bill. Can we expect to see the Final Stages being taken in the House before Christmas? Also, where stands the legislation to establish SOLAS?

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Mortgage Applications Approvals (15 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Finance if he is concerned by reports of delays to processing of mortgage applications at Allied Irish Bank in view of the upcoming end of mortgage relief for first time buyers and the significant financial cost that buyers will face if their transactions are not completed by 31 December 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50499/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (15 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to produce and post the fortnightly payslips to all primary and post primary teaching school staff and to all those retired teachers in receipt of pensions from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50728/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of grants awarded or paid to students by Student Universal Support Ireland; if he will give a guarantee that all student grant applications will be processed and those students who qualify will be paid by Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51420/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for his response and for the updated figures. Once again I acknowledge the approach he took last week in that he took responsibility for this issue, which is very important and welcome. I said at the time that I felt the Minister also needed to take responsibility to ensure students would be paid before Christmas and I asked that he meet SUSI and tease out exactly where...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: With regard to the 21,000 applications in hand for processing, a dent has not been made in it in the past week or so. The 21,000 applications and packages have not been checked to ensure all documentation is there. The expected return rate, where applications are incomplete, is up to 40%. Given the major challenge, and when many applications have not been opened or double checked, how will...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister outlined how when a student is awarded a grant there can then be a delay because the student must go back to the college to get confirmation of registration and must also get bank account details. Could we not ensure that bank account details are available in advance so that, at least, that element of the delay could be avoided?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bullying in Schools (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions he has had with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors since September 2012 in relation to the impact of the cut to guidance hours which has resulted in schools only being able to provide an emergency counselling service to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51421/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bullying in Schools (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: When this announcement was made in last year's budget, we warned that it could lead to the end of career guidance as a profession, as well as impacting on the most vulnerable and disadvantaged students, especially those with mental health concerns. At the time the Minister assured us that schools would continue to provide guidance to their students and he was confident that schools would act...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bullying in Schools (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: I believe the Minister would recognise that the role of the guidance counsellor is not only to provide career guidance but, as the title indicate, also to be a counsellor to students on many issues.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Bullying in Schools (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: A guidance counsellor is the first contact and a key person students seek out when they have a particular issue and these would be issues long before NEPS might become involved. We are now two and half months into the new school year and it is clear the impact for students of the measures the Minister introduced last year has been chronic and it is getting more difficult for them all the...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: The way in which the Minister announced his decision on the junior certificate cycle reform has made the start of the project difficult. I disagree with the fact he did not engage adequately in advance with teachers, who will be a key part in delivering it. As a result of the failure to work out a plan in advance of making the announcement, it will take eight years before all subjects will...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (20 Nov 2012)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Minister outline the steps he has taken thus far in his engagements with the sector to ensure that there is a standard approach across schools in terms of the quality of the courses to be delivered? What consultations has the Minister had on ensuring there is uniformity in the marking of examinations? There is grave concern among students and teachers that the approach will not...