Results 21,721-21,740 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Naughten has up to 20 minutes for his contribution. He should feel free to use as much time as he wishes.

Health (Amendment) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Second Stage (4 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Browne has been speaking for nine minutes and up to 20 minutes are available in the slot if he wishes to take it all.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (4 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 205. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for a re-entry visa will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32685/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (4 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 206. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for a re-entry visa will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32686/13]

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (4 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 207. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for a re-entry visa will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32687/13]

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for the clarification. I take it from his response that he is planning to hire up to 500 additional teachers in the autumn to meet what may be additional demand.

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: In a previous response in the Dáil today the Minister indicated that he did not expect any overall change in the number of resource teachers in the system, so the two statements are contradictory. He has brought forward the 500 places from the autumn to now to ensure the extra 12% in demand is met, and there was no clarity until now as to whether the Minister would increase the overall...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am quite concerned by the Minister's response indicating that the only place to find the money was in the pupil-teacher ratio. It seems to be the only area identified so far, and the Minister has not yet given us an assurance that he will not go down that path. I remind the Minister of what he said when he stood where I am as Opposition spokesperson for education seeking the job he has...

Other Questions: State Examinations Issues (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I too have grave concerns about the way the Minister is reforming the junior certificate. There is a need for an impartial examination which can have a benefit in ensuring standards throughout the country. That is crucial. As Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan pointed out, teachers routinely correct examinations. In terms of whether the junior certificate is a high stakes examination anymore, it...

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Will the Minister indicate why schools and principals were only informed last week about the allocation of resource teaching hours and those relating to special needs assistants, SNAs, for the coming school year? I understand that the allocation regarding resource teaching was available four weeks in advance of the provision relating to SNAs. Why were both not released together?

Other Questions: School Staffing (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It was reported widely in the newspapers that the Minister's Department specifically asked the National Council for Special Education not to release the resource teaching allocations for a period of three to four weeks. Those allocations only arrived after the commencement of the school holidays. This has created immense difficulties in the context of trying to match up resource teaching...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for his reply. My party has welcomed that report. We believe massive progress has been made on special education in the past 15 years in particular. An examination of the way we allocate resources is very important but it is crucial that we ensure it does not lead to any reduction in the resources and money provided nor any reduction of the services to students who...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for that reply. It leaves a lot to be desired in terms of ensuring smooth transition from primary level to secondary level. Has the Minister undertaken any initiatives or any policy change he is working on, apart from the overall review the National Council for Special Education has been tasked with, to try to enhance the smooth switch-over from primary to secondary...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 4. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Student Universal Support Ireland applications for 2012-13 still to receive a final answer; the number of appeals outstanding; the steps he has taken to ensure students are not refused access to examination results due to not having a final answer on their grant application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32545/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: At the outset, I wish to recap precisely what the experience with SUSI has been. In the past year, more than half or approximately 20,000 students did not get paid their first grant instalment until the new year. Parents and families have experienced exceptional hardship in a difficult time with the single biggest cause of hardship being the mishandling by the Minister and his Department of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: As for the remaining cases, can the Minister clarify further what precisely is the position with regard to them getting their examination results? Can the Minister give Members a deadline as to when they all will be cleared and will have final answers?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: In his response, the Minister has just shown how he has completely failed to handle this issue since he introduced the SUSI system.. He has just told me SUSI is not responsible for handling postgraduate students when it is responsible and has been dealing with it since last September. This is the very body the Minister set up but one year later, he stands here still not understanding...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister but in his response, the Minister has displayed his lack of a handle on this issue since the outset. He has shown he does not understand there could be a postgraduate student who only got sorted out in the last couple of days. In the case I cited to the Minister, a postgraduate student has not been able to access that individual's college facilities to complete the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Can the Minister give Members a final deadline as to when those students who already have completed their examinations and whose examinations already have been corrected will finally receive an answer from SUSI, the body the Minister has established and of which he has made a mess? Can he give Members an answer as to when the students will get an answer on whether they qualify for a grant?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Issues Facing Small Primary Schools: Discussion (3 Jul 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I join the Chairman in welcoming our guest speakers to the meeting. They represent the Church of Ireland Board of Education, the Catholic Primary School Management Association and the Department of Education and Skills. I asked for this item to be placed on the committee's agenda because when I visit schools in my constituency, I get feedback from boards of management, teachers and...