Results 22,061-22,080 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Health: Services for People with Disabilities (23 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: 637. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the impact that cuts to Health Service Executive Beechpark Autism services are having on schools with ASD classes, particularly in relation to schools in Dublin North Central and Dublin North-East; and if he has any plans to ease the burden on both schools and children affected by these cuts; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Sale of State Assets (18 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the recent discussions he has had with the Troika in respect of the sale of State assets and the investment of proceeds from such sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17860/13]

Other Questions: School Patronage (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State for his response. There is a degree of hypocrisy in making it more difficult for some small schools to operate through changes to the PTR, minor works grant and capitation fees while seeking greater plurality. Undoubtedly there is an issue of how we provide choice to parents but the Minister's approach has been unfortunate. When he entered office, he...

Other Questions: School Patronage (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: It is entirely congruent to link small schools with the plurality issue because many small schools are multidenominational or denominations other than Catholic and provide a choice to parents from that area. It is incongruent of the Minister of State to respond to so many genuine questions by commenting on political theatre. It is a good opportunity to get to the nub of the issues and it is...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I join Deputy McHugh in asking that the assessment be done on the demand for dedicated classes and supports within the Crana College development. It is a worthy proposal. There are many gaps in the autism related supports. In my own area of Inishowen there is good work carried out by the centre for autism related education, or iCare, which operates from funds raised and which has no...

Other Questions: Schools Mental Health Strategies (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide specialist training in the area of mental health for teachers and principal teachers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17544/13]

Other Questions: Schools Mental Health Strategies (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The focus of my question is the pressures and stresses on teachers in the course of carrying out their work and the impact that is having on the mental health of teachers. I accept that mental health is also a serious issue among the student population. The recent Irish Primary Principals Network conference in Citywest highlighted how stress and mental health difficulties are affecting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his response to the recent ASTI survey of second level teachers on the proposed reforms of the junior certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17793/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State for his response. My party agrees that reform of the junior certificate can improve it. To this end, we undertook a wide-ranging consultation when last in government. It was designed to make proposals on reforming the junior certificate. When the NCCA put them before the Minister, Deputy Quinn, he changed them significantly. Since then, he has failed to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Curriculum (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Unfortunately, the Minister, Deputy Quinn, has refused to engage in a meaningful way in advance of publishing his framework for the junior cycle. At the Teachers Union of Ireland, TUI, conference in Galway, the Minister mentioned that this was a personal political project. That is the wrong type of language. He should engage with teachers. According to the evidence, reforms work better...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Closures (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding smaller schools at primary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17792/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Closures (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. What are the Government's thoughts on small schools? He indicated that the value for money report is due to go to Cabinet in the coming weeks. However, its recommendations and findings need to be used to support small rural schools and not as a rationale for closing them. I would like an assurance from the Minister of State that he does not...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Closures (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The Minister of State's reply does not assure me or the one third of primary schools with an enrolment of less than 80 pupils about the Government's plans for their future. We are aware the report has not been published yet. We are asking for an assurance from him that he has no intention of closing schools but we have been unable to get that, which is concerning. I refer to the Department...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Multilingualism in an EU Context: Discussion with Department of Education and Skills (17 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome Ms Naughton and her colleagues from the Department of Education and Skills. She outlined the current policies for improving the language capacity of students and the wider population. Significant issues have arisen recently in regard to the foreign language capacity required for some of the jobs that have been attracted to this country. PayPal received particular attention when...

Written Answers — Department of Children and Youth Affairs: Child Care Reports (16 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her response to the contents of UNICEF’s Report Card 11 - Child well-being in rich countries insofar as it relates to Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17355/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (16 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the impact that cuts to Health Service Executive Beechpark Autism Services are having on schools with ASD classes, particularly in relation to schools in Dublin North Central and Dublin North-East; and if he has any plans to ease the burden on both schools and children affected by these cuts; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Renewable Energy Incentives (16 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans, if any, he has to provide funding for schools who wish to use renewable energy on their premises; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16194/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (16 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a funding deficit (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if they have been contacted by the association in regard to it and a possible 40% reduction in front-line staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16314/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (16 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application for resource hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16477/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (16 Apr 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline on a county basis the number of schools with less than 80 pupils currently in operation. [16908/13]