Results 22,161-22,180 of 23,989 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Other Questions: Schools Guidance Counsellors (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I ask that the Minister request his officials to obtain those figures relatively quickly. There are only a small number of courses involved. It is important we get those figures.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Given the particular problems, the Minister's hands-off approach was not acceptable. When we tabled a Private Members' motion highlighting the issue, the Minister's initial reply was that he would have a conversation with SUSI on foot of this Legislature stating publicly and democratically that we had a problem. That problem was clearly highlighted in advance of that, but it was only after...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I know there were certain issues with how particular local authorities were handling it in the past. The Minister's objective was to equal or improve on that. The reality was that he equalised that by making it equally poor for everyone in the past year. We need to ensure it does not happen next year.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Given the delays in the capital asset test, I have concerns that we are going about it the wrong way again this year.

Other Questions: Schools Guidance Counsellors (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed that we have not yet got the figures.

Other Questions: Schools Guidance Counsellors (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: The step of moving the ex-quota allocation for career guidance is seen by those in the career-guidance sector - and also by those considering entering it - as an attack on the profession. It will undoubtedly have a very serious impact on the decisions being made by new graduates considering a career in career guidance. This profession was built up over many years to the point where we had...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is true that he had just one informal meeting with the CEO of City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee and that there was no other correspondence between his office and the DCVEC during the entire four months of the student grant crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12115/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for his reply. In the economic times in which we have found ourselves recently with the financial pressures that are on families, particularly those sending students to school and, most of all, third level, it is a travesty that the biggest cause of financial hardship and stress in the past academic year for those families has been the Minister's failure to properly...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Higher Education Grants Eligibility Criteria (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the report of the capital asset implementation group will go to Cabinet; if he is considering proposals that children from a farm with net assets of more than €750,000 will be excluded from third level maintenance grants; where such a figure originated from; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12114/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Higher Education Grants Eligibility Criteria (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed the Minister did not answer the question I asked, whether he is considering the introduction of a capital assets test that would see productive assets in excess of €750,000 included when assessing families for a maintenance grant. I would like a direct reply to that question. It has been given wide coverage in newspapers. If it is the case, where did the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Higher Education Grants Eligibility Criteria (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Does the Minister stand by earlier comments on this issue he made on "Newstalk Breakfast" in March 2011, when he said that he wanted to reform the way in which student grants would operate and that, until now, there had been a bias towards the self-employed and the agricultural community, who were able to manipulate their income so their children could avail of grants? Does the Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Higher Education Grants Eligibility Criteria (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Does the Minister not believe figures are being manipulated now?

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Croke Park Agreement Issues (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that the issue of the increasing casualisation of the teaching work force is addressed or taken into account during the negotiations on an additional €1 billion in public sector savings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11958/13]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the problems with student grants have been fully resolved; if all students who have been approved for a student grant are now in receipt of payment; when the report of the inquiry into the student crisis will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12116/13]

Health Insurance: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Can we have some order please? Deputy Kelleher has the floor.

Health Insurance: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (6 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: Deputy Kelleher has the floor.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Education Budget: Discussion with Minister for Education and Skills (6 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for attending. What are the Minister's current expectations as to whether he will be obliged to deliver further cuts to the education sector in the budget? Does he envisage budgetary pressures next year within the system which may lead him to cut some programmes? For example, as the Minister pointed out, this year 450 additional teachers were hired in September at both...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Poverty Issues: Discussion with European Anti-Poverty Network (6 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: What is the dynamic between the number of people who are currently homeless and on the streets and the reasons behind it? Could one categorise the problem? I accept some homeless people have issues with drug and addiction problems. Do other categories of people also become homeless? There is an allowance for unemployment and also rent supplement, which is by no means generous but it is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Poverty Issues: Discussion with European Anti-Poverty Network (6 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome Mr. Hanan and Mr. Ginnell to the meeting. I thank them for their attendance and for making a submission on this important issue. I ask for details on the European Anti-Poverty Network's international relationships and how the organisation is funded. This is my first meeting with the delegates. It was stated in the presentation that one third of children are deprived in some way.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Poverty Issues: Discussion with European Anti-Poverty Network (6 Mar 2013)

Charlie McConalogue: I ask Mr. Hanan to elaborate on that statistic. What type of deprivation is being experienced? How has it changed since the recession began in the past five years? The national anti-poverty strategy stipulates a requirement for poverty-proofing. I am interested in hearing the views of the delegates on how this operates. A number of measures have been introduced and it is not clear how...