Results 201-220 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Educational Entitlements: Educational Entitlements (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The universities are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine their own admissions policy. I understand from University College Cork that it cannot locate a record of an application or a refusal of an application for admission to nursing from the person concerned. Under the Equal Status Act 2000, educational establishments may not discriminate as regards the terms and conditions of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The criteria used for prioritising large-scale primary and post-primary school building projects is set out in appendix 1 and 2 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website www.education.ie. As I announced when publishing the programme, a key strategy for school building projects going forward will be grounded on the budget day announcement of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together. The school in question has been allocated a total of 3.65 whole-time equivalent teacher posts and seven whole-time equivalent special needs assistant posts to cater for the special educational needs of the pupil in question and a number of other pupils with special needs attending the school.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 321 together. I established a working group to review all aspects of the syllabus and examination for the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge in 2001. The report of the working group was recently submitted to me. Issues dealt with in the report include the content and format of the examination modules, the standard of the examinations and the...

Written Answers — School Policies: School Policies (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In accordance with the rules for national schools, the length of the school day for pupils enrolled in infants or first class may, at the board of management's discretion, be reduced by one hour to four hours and 40 minutes. It is acknowledged that particular circumstances may arise whereby the implementation of the shorter day for these pupils can cause difficulties for some parents. Where...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: This proposed large-scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on the Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at stage 3 — detailed plans-costs — of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by the Department in accordance with the published...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The property management section of the OPW is acting on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. It is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question. However, due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment in relation to a specific site. The relevant information will...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In addition to funding a number of national support services, for example in the areas of curricular reform and special needs, my Department supports a wide range of continuing professional development programmes provided by a network of education centres at local level for personnel working in primary and post-primary schools. In this regard the in-career development unit of my Department...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Of the 73 primary schools in County Louth, 37 currently have a service from the national educational psychological service, NEPS. All the schools that do not yet have a service (36) may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA. Details of this scheme have been circulated to all schools and are also available on my Department's website. Under the Draft Development...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department's examination of the question of introducing a pension scheme for school caretakers will have regard to the provisions of the Protection of Employees (Part-time Work) Act 2001 and the Protection of Employees (Fixed-term Work) Act 2003. Discussions with the education partners, and the Department of Finance, are ongoing regarding the implementation of these complex Acts. My...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 to 295, inclusive, together. The Education Council meetings scheduled for 26 February — education — and 27-28 May 2004 — education, youth and culture — will be held in the headquarters of the European Council, the Justus Lipsius Building in Brussels. Discussions on agenda items for both meetings are on-going. At the February Council the main item...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 to 298, inclusive, together. The adult literacy services are delivered locally by vocational education committees with funding from my Department. The 2004 allocation for adult literacy will be determined when the revised Estimates for the Public Service are published at the end of February.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no record of having received an application for home tuition for the person referred to by the Deputy. I wish to advise the Deputy that the primary responsibility for service provision for pre-school age children rests with the appropriate health authority. However, my Department has established eight pre-school classes for children with autism, four in Dublin and four in...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Bus Éireann has been asked to investigate the possibility of re-routing an existing service for the pupil referred to in the details supplied. As soon as a report has been received and considered my Department will contact the family. In the meantime, my Department has offered a medical grant towards the cost of private transport arrangements from the pupil's home to the school.

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The youth affairs section of my Department funds the YMCA through its youth service grant scheme. The scheme provides support on an annual basis to national and major regional voluntary youth work organisations. Funding amounting to €119,672 was allocated to the YMCA in 2003. Six staff positions are supported by 80% of this aid, including a part-time national STEP co-ordinator. The STEP,...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I am availing myself of the Irish EU Presidency to further develop youth policy at home and to influence youth policy in Europe. Progressing the European Commission's White Paper, A New Impetus for European Youth, is a priority for the youth agenda during the Irish Presidency. I plan to hold a youth conference at ministerial level in County Clare from 4 to 6 March next and, while its overall...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Section 16 of the Youth Work Act 2001 provides for the appointment of an assessor of youth work and this has been identified as a priority action by my Department. A sub-committee of the national youth work advisory committee, which was appointed under sections 17 and 18 of the Act to advise on youth work and youth work policy, has drawn up a job description for the assessor of youth work...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The proposed large-scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme, which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This proposed project is at stage 3, detailed plans-costs, of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: As part of its evaluative role, my Department's inspectorate conducted a sample survey in late 2002 of 25 primary schools that had been allocated resource teacher and special needs assistant support. The objective of the review was to provide a detailed account of the additional allocation of resources for pupils with special educational needs with particular reference to the terms of the...

Written Answers — Inservice Training: Inservice Training (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In addition to funding a number of national support services, for example, in the areas of curricular reform and special needs, my Department supports a wide range of continuing professional development programmes provided by a network of education centres at local level for personnel working in primary and post-primary schools. In this regard, the in-career development unit of my Department...