Results 1,821-1,840 of 23,950 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for his reply. In the economic times in which we have found ourselves recently with the financial pressures that are on families, particularly those sending students to school and, most of all, third level, it is a travesty that the biggest cause of financial hardship and stress in the past academic year for those families has been the Minister's failure to properly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Given the particular problems, the Minister's hands-off approach was not acceptable. When we tabled a Private Members' motion highlighting the issue, the Minister's initial reply was that he would have a conversation with SUSI on foot of this Legislature stating publicly and democratically that we had a problem. That problem was clearly highlighted in advance of that, but it was only after...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I know there were certain issues with how particular local authorities were handling it in the past. The Minister's objective was to equal or improve on that. The reality was that he equalised that by making it equally poor for everyone in the past year. We need to ensure it does not happen next year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Given the delays in the capital asset test, I have concerns that we are going about it the wrong way again this year.

Other Questions: Schools Guidance Counsellors (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed that we have not yet got the figures.

Other Questions: Schools Guidance Counsellors (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The step of moving the ex-quota allocation for career guidance is seen by those in the career-guidance sector - and also by those considering entering it - as an attack on the profession. It will undoubtedly have a very serious impact on the decisions being made by new graduates considering a career in career guidance. This profession was built up over many years to the point where we had...

Other Questions: Schools Guidance Counsellors (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I ask that the Minister request his officials to obtain those figures relatively quickly. There are only a small number of courses involved. It is important we get those figures.

Other Questions: School Guidelines on Mental Health (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for his reply. I welcome the publication of the guidelines for mental health promotion and suicide prevention and the action plan on bullying. These are important initiatives and it is important that schools have guidance and the strategies they need to adopt to ensure children are safe in the school grounds and that their mental health is a core concern. The Minister...

Other Questions: School Guidelines on Mental Health (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: These are two important initiatives, but at the same time the Minister has removed €32 million which was specifically dedicated for guidance counsellors. While they did not play the only role in a school, they had a key role in liaising with students with particular difficulties with regard to mental health or bullying. The Minister is absolutely correct that everyone in the school...

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister. This question follows on from the previous one and is closely related to it. Various surveys which have been published indicate a drop in guidance hours, including one by the Institute of Guidance Counsellors which indicated a 21% drop. The Minister provided details of a survey the Department did, which showed a 25% cut in guidance hours. The survey from the...

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister had another choice, which was to protect the education budget and fight at the Cabinet table to ensure education was protected in the current environment.

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Unfortunately this is something the Minister did not manage to achieve and as a result we have seen cuts in the education sector. Yesterday we heard how the Minister intends to deliver another €44 million in cuts in the upcoming budget.

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: In a pre-budget submission we protected the education budget along with mental health and disability services. I encourage the Minister in the upcoming budget to do the same.

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The issue of casualisation of the teaching profession at both primary and second level has become a real problem and I ask the Minister to comment on a particular matter about which I also seek some leniency from him. I refer to the position at primary level with regard to the temporary panel of teachers. Teachers who have completed three years of teaching are eligible to be placed on a...

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: As I did not come in on the previous question, may I comment?

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: This obviously is still a problem. I take the point that in some circumstances, there may be a real difficulty with regard to availability in exceptional circumstances. However, anecdotally and from experience, serious issues still persist in schools across the country whereby teachers who are retired are getting temporary contracts and contracts. Whatever about a day's subbing when...

Other Questions: Irish Language (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Go raibh maith ag an Minister for the reply. There is some concern that with the amalgamation of these two bodies, somehow the resources that have been allocated specifically to An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta may become diluted as a result of the amalgamation with the NCCA. Can consideration be given to ensuring there is a ring-fenced budget to avoid a...

Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Will it be possible for long-term unemployed people who are not in receipt of social welfare benefits because of their partners' income to apply for the MOMENTUM programme? Such people have been unfairly blocked from accessing similar programmes in the past. They also need access to retraining to get back into the workforce, even if they are not...

Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Yes, but they are long-term unemployed.

Other Questions: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I ask the Minister of State and his ministerial colleagues to examine this issue. This is an unfortunate category of people who, because they have a partner in full-time employment, are not eligible for social welfare payments. They can be out of work for years but they are not recognised on the live register or by the State for the purposes of rejoining the workforce. These people are...