Results 21,841-21,860 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: When he targeted disadvantaged schools in a previous budget he admitted that he did not understand the impact of the cut. He apologised and subsequently reversed it.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am about to conclude. Regarding student grants, he apologised to students for the mistakes that had been made. I am asking the Tánaiste to admit that this is an indefensible mistake.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It is 10% less than last year.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Every child is being cut.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: A cut of 10% is being imposed on every child.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Shameful. The Tánaiste is not addressing the impact of the cut.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Yesterday, the truth of the Government's cut to students with special needs became clear when the National Council for Special Education announced that the 42,500 special needs students will have their allocation of resulting hours cut by 12% at the start of the new school term. This means that children with autism, severe emotional disturbance, severe learning disabilities and assessed...

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, this is a very serious-----

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, this is a very serious issue.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: This is a very serious issue.

Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: This is a serious issue that requires the attention of every Deputy in this House. Unfortunately, the Tánaiste's response shows that he does not have a clue as to the impact this will have on special needs students from September. Nowhere in his response has he acknowledged that this will lead to a reduction of half an hour for almost every student in receipt of special teaching hours...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: My overall view of the Bill and the proposals which the Government is putting forward is that it is an immense disappointment and a terrible missed opportunity by the Government to bring about serious political reform. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin, at the outset, in May 2011, stated boldly, "The programme for Government agreed by the two parties contains the...

An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It boils down to little more than a stunt by the Government to give the impression to the public that it is doing something big in terms of reform when it is doing nothing. The Government is going backwards. Instead of opening things up, it is shutting them down. The Dáil will be no different. The only difference is the Seanad will not be there. I hold no candle for the Seanad and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight and Petitions: Back to Education Allowance: Discussion on Public Petition Received (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I join with previous speakers in welcoming Mr. Kevin Walshe and I commend him for his work and initiative in submitting his petition and getting it to this stage. It is great to see the Oireachtas being open to average citizens to come here and have an audience with legislators and those who set policy and with departmental officials who are responsible for overseeing it, and suggesting...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It is a good and important initiative to make the Department and the HEA aware of the decision and also to inform the colleges of the situation. Whether or not they get the final papers, it is important that their colleges give them their exam results. No student should be in the situation of not knowing his or her exam result because there is a delay on a final decision.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree. It is important to have clarity on this point. I suggest this be noted in the letter to the Minister so that some arrangement can be made to ensure students are not in the dark, so to speak.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am not sure how this can be dealt with. There are 118 students dealing with estrangement or independent living who have been caught in a position where they have not yet received an answer. SUSI indicated that may have happened because of the terms of the grant scheme. We need to write to the Minister, flag the fact this issue was raised today and ask him to engage with SUSI. I do not...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister will engage-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Third Level Student Grant System: Discussion with SUSI (19 Jun 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I would like clarity on the 543 appeals cases. Most are fresh appeals and are two or three weeks old. Where do those students stand in terms of exam results? Will they be unable to get them pending an appeal? Is that something the Minister needs to engage on with the HEA in terms of how colleges handle the matter?