Results 20,021-20,040 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It does.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Deputy had to come down here to get it.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I note, in respect of the subheads in the category of administration, that the figure concerning NEPS staff in 2013 was just under €17.5 million, while the provisional outturn for last year dropped to €15 million. This is quite a significant drop. Why is that the case?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: There was a drop from €17 million to €15 million.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The drop of over €2.5 million was quite significant.

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: To what did it drop?

Committee on Education and Social Protection: Select Sub-Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 26 - Department of Education and Skills (Revised) (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister might revert to us on the figure. There was a decrease in the Estimate of almost €2.5 million from 2013 to 2014. That is over 10%, so it seems strange.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Eligibility (4 Mar 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a review will be carried out by his Department on the stocking rate requirements currently being imposed on a farmer (details supplied) in County Donegal with regard to their current circumstances in order for them to continue to avail of their current payment while the situation is resolved; and if he will make a statement on...

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...

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: 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...

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...