Results 23,681-23,700 of 23,995 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: It will allow me more time to deal with the issue, because we were short the last time. In her earlier response, the Minister mentioned that as of 31 December 2011, there were 2,429 social workers employed in the HSE, and that four of the additional 60 to be recruited this year have been recruited so far. I put down a question the last day which specifically asked for the number of social...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: The figure for 1 January is critical if we are to assess where we are at the moment. There is no doubt that social workers are the bedrock of our child protection systems and our child services. They are under pressure because only four extra social workers have been recruited up to this point. Staff on maternity leave and temporary posts are not being refilled, which is putting massive...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Question 61: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the teaching vacancies in both post primary and primary schools that will arise form the February 2012 retirement deadline Croke Park agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32594/11]

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Question 62: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding a school building (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32596/11]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Question 136: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32634/11]

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Question 137: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a REP scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32635/11]

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the additional social workers to be employed in 2011 under the Ryan Report Implementation Plan will be in their positions by the end of 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32621/11]

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for her response. This is the second time I have had to ask about the number of social workers hired this year as a result of the recommendations of the Ryan report as the No. 1 Priority Question. On the last occasion I asked the Minister for specifics on the number of social workers we had on 1 January and how many we have now. The Ryan report commits to employing 200...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: -----throughout this year, not allowing any further posts to be filled. The Minister is telling us today that the HSE has informed her differently. Perhaps the Minister will clarify the figure as of 1 January this year and as of today, which information I sought from the Minister on the last occasion she took Questions in the House.

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: This is the second time I have asked for these figures. We now know that as of 31 September 2011 there are 2,429 social workers in place. In order to know whether the four people recruited are part of that 2,429, we need first to know the figure as of 1 January. Despite this being the second occasion on which I have asked this question of the Minister, I still cannot get the information...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Also, the Minister is not able to tell me the figure as of 1 January 2011. It is not good enough to seek assurance in this regard from the HSE. The Minister needs to find out the figure as of 1 January 2011 and the figure now. That is the only way we will know whether any of the 60 posts, which are supposed to be additional, are such. Perhaps the Minister will tell me the figure as of 1...

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Perhaps the Minister will give a brief response.

Health Service Staff (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: This is-----

Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she agrees with Dr. Helen Buckley that the workload of the National Review Panel is virtually impossible to carry out owing to the number and breadth of inquiries it must investigate; if she intends to assign more resources to the panel; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32622/11]

Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank the Minister for her response. As she pointed out, the national review panel was set up in response to the poor recording of child death over the years within the HSE and the failure on the part of the State to investigate and assess the problems and weaknesses in each area. I also commend Dr. Buckley and the review panel for their work on this. They were asked to look into 36...

Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: The key point is that each child was in the care of the State. Children need to be assessed to discover whether weaknesses are present which need to be acted upon immediately. Worryingly, Dr. Buckley stated she did not have the resources to deal appropriately with the cases. What are the Minister's plans to deal with this and ensure resources are available so that when the next report is...

Children in Care (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: As the Minister pointed out, the report did not indicate that any of the deaths were directly attributable to inaction by the HSE. It did, however, highlight failures in terms of HSE practice in regard to child care over a period of years, breaches of Children First guidelines, etc. The key point is that each of those cases be investigated, and if the HIQA highlights that extra resources...

Out of Hours Services (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: I commend the Health Service Executive on its work on the pilot scheme in County Donegal. Feedback from staff indicates it has been a positive experience. Given her background, the Minister will be aware that emergency cases do not always occur during office hours. It is critical, therefore, that we have an out-of-hours service. Will the Minister make available to Opposition spokespersons...

Missing Children Hotline (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: The missing children hotline is operational in 15 European Union member states and the European Commission is considering the possibility of introducing sanctions against member states which have not yet introduced the service. In Belgium the system was first run by a local group, Child Focus, which received 50% state funding and 50% private funding as well as further Government assistance...

Social Welfare Code: Motion (Resumed) (3 Nov 2011)

Charlie McConalogue: I commend my colleague, Deputy Barry Cowen, our spokesperson on social welfare, on bringing forward this opportune Private Members' motion on the importance of protecting our social welfare payments and of holding the Government to account in terms of ensuring the people who are most vulnerable in these difficult financial times are protected as far as is possible in the upcoming budget. We...