Results 19,741-19,760 of 23,978 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I am disappointed by the anaemic detail provided in the Minister's response. There is a real crisis in our third level sector. As pointed out by Mr. Boland in his commentary, there has been a 15% increase in third level student numbers over the past five years and alongside that, a 12% reduction in staff numbers. Overall, there was a 24% reduction, per student, in State funding during that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I understand the group chaired by Mr. Cassells will not report until the end of this year. I seek the views of the Minister on the comments of the HEA chief executive in relation to whether it is acceptable to continue to expect colleges to accept further students without provision of the necessary funding to cater for them. I ask the Minister to address that specific point.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: We all recall the promise made by the Labour Party in advance of the last general election, namely, that it would reduce the student contribution fee to €1,500. Instead, what has happened is that each student attending third level education is now being asked to pay €3,000, which is twice the fee to which the Labour Party committed prior to the last general election. Also, not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Holidays (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 16. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the number of schools which had to close on 22 May 2015 due to their use as polling stations for the referenda; if she will provide details on the impact this has on lost school days; and if she will agree to liaise with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to draw up a plan to find alternative venues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Poverty (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the survey by Kellogg's (details supplied) which found that 53% of teachers surveyed noticed children arriving at school hungry at least once a week; if she will provide an update on national policy for mitigating the effects of food poverty on children's education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22027/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 25. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on recent comments by a person (details supplied) that due to the shortfall of capital and staff investment in the higher education system since 2012, it is not reasonable to expect universities and colleges to accept additional students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22030/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address concerns regarding the impact of the removal of the ex-quota guidance counsellor allocation on children from less advantaged backgrounds; and her plans to enhance guidance counselling services to children from disadvantaged backgrounds. [22026/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 40. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the implementation of the Oireachtas Report on Tackling School Costs; if she will commit to putting adequate levels of resources for voluntary secondary schools in place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22028/15]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Appeals (10 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: 164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will issue regarding an appeal made by the parents of children living in Urris, County Donegal, who attend or will be attending a school (details supplied) in County Donegal, and who have been advised that their nearest school is now in Buncrana, as Bus Éireann used a route over Mamore Gap when calculating the nearest...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 7:In page 6, between lines 6 and 7, to insert the following:“(d) the principle of climate justice.”. We are moving the amendment because climate change is generating serious weather consequences, the impact of which is increasingly turbulent weather systems which are being felt most of all in developing countries. Drought and severe weather conditions are...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It is essential that poorer countries be enabled to work with better-off countries to address the issue of reducing carbon emissions. Inserting it into the Bill would place a legislative requirement on the Government to ensure climate justice was a key part of our negotiating stance in the Minister's engagement with international partners. He should enshrine it in legislation. He has not...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 12:In page 6, line 9, to delete "24 months" and substitute "6 months". This is pretty straightforward and the reason for the amendment is clear. It would require the publication of a national plan within six months rather than the current two years outlined as part of the Bill. The delays leading to this Bill in the first place have left Ireland well behind many of our...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: We are happy to withdraw the amendment as long as the Minister reconsiders the timeframe. Two years is too long.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree with that. We have rarely had a Dáil as controlled by the Government as we have today. The Government has traditionally a majority in the Dáil and to seek the Dáil's approval as suggested in the proposal would serve the purpose of ensuring there is debate on the issue. It would be healthy to proceed in this manner rather than to centralise everything in the hands of...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 15:In page 6, between lines 28 and 29, to insert the following:“(e) specify the projected total national emissions for the period of the plan after all the policy measures specified in the plan.”. The amendment is similar to the previous motion brought forward by Deputy Michael Colreavy. It seeks the setting of targets, but we are not seeking to have...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: It is important that our overall plan be sensitive to Ireland's set-up, particularly agriculture, given its potential and contribution to the economy. This is a separate issue from the overall point, namely, our national objective and setting specific targets across sectors. Unfortunately, the Bill is too much about vague aspirations rather than the clear targets we need to set. Section 4...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 18:In page 7, between lines 33 and 34, to insert the following:“(a) the principle of climate justice,”. We discussed earlier the importance of including the concept of climate justice in the legislation and I will not rehearse the arguments now. A number of Opposition amendments have been ruled out of order because they could potentially result in a...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 19:In page 8, line 11, after “measures” to insert “including the management of soil carbon and the protection and rewetting of wetlands”. This is a technical amendment to ensure information on soil carbon and wetlands would be integrated into the national plan. They form a vital part of the ecosystem in terms of the capacity to absorb carbon.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 24:In page 9, line 38, to delete “Dáil Éireann” and substitute “and approved by both Houses of the Oireachtas”.

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Committee Stage (9 Jun 2015)

Charlie McConalogue: I move amendment No. 26:In page 12, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following:“(3) The Expert Advisory Council shall be independent in the performance of its functions.”. As we know, the Minister has announced the composition of the council which includes many individuals of very high calibre. However, various action groups have raised concerns about the lack of an...