Results 20,681-20,700 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State for his response. Could he clarify his previous response to Deputy Finian McGrath about the supports children with Down's syndrome can expect this September? As has been rightly pointed out, there was a High Court case in the past couple of weeks involving two families who challenged the Government because their children with Down's syndrome were not entitled...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department will be issuing a new circular on special needs assistants in view of the recent acknowledgment that the circular issued before Easter was badly phrased; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29395/14]

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Staffing (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: In several of his responses today the Minister of State has indicated that the number of SNAs is higher than it has been in the past. However, the problem is that on the ground, when one goes to any school, the reality is very different. Teachers, principals and parents will tell the Minister of State what they are telling the rest of us, namely, how difficult it is to ensure SNA support is...

Other Questions: Special Education Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 63. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will be accepting and implementing the recent recommendations of the National Council for Special Education for a new model of allocating teaching resources for students with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29393/14]

Other Questions: Special Education Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: Does the Minister intend to accept and implement the recent recommendations of the National Council for Special Education for a new model of allocating teaching resources for students with special educational needs?

Other Questions: Special Education Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I commend the former inspector of the Department of Education and Skills, Mr. Emmet Stack, and his group on compiling this report and for their work on it. It will be crucial that there is proper consultation and that everybody's views are taken on board before deciding how to move forward. The Minister, Deputy Quinn, in his press statement coinciding with the release of the report, struck...

Other Questions: Special Education Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: The Irish Primary Principals Network, IPPN, raised some concerns about the employment of teachers with restricted recognition. The IPPN chief executive officer, Seán Cottrell, said, "The proposed profiling of schools will enable those with the greatest level of need to secure the greater resource. However, some schools may lose practically all of their current supports while others may...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: In May the Minister, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, announced that he was to invite the teacher unions to direct talks, acknowledging that the work of the working group during the course of the year had led to an industrial dispute between teachers and the Department about how the junior certificate reform programme was to be implemented. The Minister indicated that direct talks would commence...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 61. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his talks with the teacher unions on the subject of junior cycle reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29394/14]

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Minister provide an update on talks with the teacher unions on the subject of junior cycle reform?

Other Questions: School Curriculum (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Minister of State will agree and as the Minister very much acknowledges, junior cycle reform is crucial to reforming the curriculum and how it is delivered at second level. That the Minister has been willing to progress it is positive. We would like to see this happen with everybody involved and on board. Unfortunately, because of the manner in which the Minister has handled the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Minister of State clarify that if it looks like the economy and finances are ahead of profile in terms of the overall financial budget, the summer works scheme and minor works grant will be a priority for Government in the upcoming budget and that he will ensure there is money allocated for these next year? Because the Government made the choice not to pay these moneys in the past...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 57. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his Department's budgetary situation; if he will undertake to reverse the reductions in capitation; if he will commit to properly funded summer works and minor works schemes in view of the financial pressure on schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29687/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: My question is to ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his Department's budgetary situation, if he will undertake to reverse reductions in school capitation that he implemented, and if he will commit to properly funded summer works and minor works schemes in view of the financial pressure on our schools.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the fact that a minor works grant was paid out this academic year and that there was a summer works scheme under which many schools across the country had essential work done, which had been delayed by cuts to the summer works scheme budget. Funding for schools is not just for election years; it must take place on a continuous basis. The Government has had three budgets and for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister of State's response does not add up or make sense. The Minister is sitting on a report commissioned to assess how small schools are working and what future policy should be in this area but he will not publish it in order that there can be a full debate. Instead, the Minister of State said the Minister is continuing to consider issues relating to the report long after it was...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the value for money report on small schools will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29686/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: My question concerns when the value for money review of small primary schools which has been with the Minister for Education and Skills for almost a year and a half will be published.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: I take the opportunity to wish the outgoing Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Ruairí Quinn, the very best. He is a man who has made an immense political contribution in what has been a long and distinguished career. Looking back over the past 30 or 40 years, he is one of the figures in Irish politics who have stood out. I know that he has some time left in this Parliament and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Statistics (8 Jul 2014)

Charlie McConalogue: 83. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he and his Department will conduct an audit of teaching resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29396/14]