Results 261-280 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The contract for the first pilot education PPP in Ireland, a bundle of five post-primary schools, was signed in November 2001 with Jarvis Projects. Construction of the schools was completed by the end of December 2002, four of the schools ahead of schedule while the fifth was signed off as scheduled demonstrating clearly that timely delivery in the construction phase is one of the attractions...

Written Answers — Early School Leavers: Early School Leavers (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In 2002, my Department introduced the school completion programme or SCP, which is a new and significantly expanded programme to deal with early school leaving incorporating the learning, experience and best practice derived from previous early school leaving initiatives, namely the eight to 15 early school leaver initiative, ESLI, and stay in school retention initiative at second level,...

Written Answers — Lisbon Agenda: Lisbon Agenda (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The strategic goal set at the Lisbon European Council in March 2000 is to make the EU the most competitive and dynamic knowledge based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion, by 2010. To ensure their contribution to the Lisbon strategy, Ministers of Education in 2001 agreed a work programme on the future objectives of...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 137 together. The Economic and Social Research Institute has been engaged by the Sports Council to carry out a study of school sport and physical education, both during schools hours and after. The inspectors of physical education in my Department will act in an advisory capacity to the research process, the results of which are expected to be...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy will be aware that the responsibility in any particular case will be determined by the particular circumstances of that case. However, in general where the operation of a school transport service according to timetable involves children being brought to school in the morning before normal time of commencement of school business, or children waiting at school in the afternoon after...

Written Answers — Educational Administration: Educational Administration (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The call for modern corporate governance structures made in my Department's submission to the OECD reflects the demands of the dynamic and competitive environment within which higher education institutions operate. It is important, in common with all public service organisations, that higher education institutions are sufficiently in tune with and responsive to wider societal needs. At...

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The proposal referred to by the Deputy was contained in the submission of the Higher Education Authority to the OECD review on higher education in Ireland. However, I clarify that the HEA did not propose a new agency, rather the establishment of a dedicated statutory fund called the "Knowledge Ireland" fund. Reflecting the medium to long-term nature of research, the basis of the proposal is...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Residential Institutions Redress Board is an independent body established under the terms of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002. The Act provided for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board. This board is in place and is fully operational. Judge Sean O'Leary, a High Court judge, is the chairperson of the board and seven other members have also been...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department allocates resource teacher support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and VECs to cater for students with special educational needs. The nature and level of support provided in each cases is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual student. The level of resources being made available to support students with special educational needs...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I am concerned by reports of problems in relation to discipline in the classroom and in particular reports involving violence against teachers. Teachers, like other employees, are entitled to feel safe and be protected from all forms of bullying and intimidation in their working environment. In 1997 my Department issued a circular, entitled Assaults on teachers/school employees, to boards of...

Written Answers — Teachers' Conferences: Teachers' Conferences (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 144 together. I welcome this opportunity to set the record straight on the question of my attendance at the forthcoming teacher union conferences. The teacher unions are important bodies in Irish education and it is highly desirable that they should have a significant role in the debate on the major issues facing our education system. It is equally...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I share the Deputy's concern about the availability of sites for schools and I want to assure the House that my Department has a number of proactive strategies to ensure that the requirement for schools in developing areas are addressed in a manner that provides value for money to the taxpayer. The process of assessing the need for new or additional educational facilities at primary or...

Written Answers — Transition to Second Level: Transition to Second Level (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has commissioned a research report on the subject of Moving up — The Experience of First Year Students in Post-Primary Education and that the study in question has been conducted by the Education Policy Research Centre of the ESRI. I understand that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently finalising...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the difficulties experienced by some families in Limerick city in securing a second level place for their children. Responsibility for ensuring that a child progresses from primary to post-primary education rests in the main with the child's parents. Under section 17 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, parents are responsible for ensuring that their children attend a recognised...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The school in question currently has the services of a shared learning support teacher. My Department is at present reviewing existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. In that context, my officials have initiated discussions on the matter with representative interests. At this stage it would be premature to anticipate the outcome. The basic...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: 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 and a copy of the report has been published on my Department's website. The period of provisional recognition granted to applicants within which they are expected to pass the SCG is one...

Written Answers — Racism in Schools: Racism in Schools (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department's approach to the increasing diversity of Irish society, as reflected in the school population, has been and continues to be an intercultural approach, promoting mutual respect, dialogue and collaboration within the whole school community, and promoting anti-racism as an integral part of this approach. The new curricula at primary and post primary levels provide ample...

Written Answers — Insurance Costs: Insurance Costs (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 194 together. I am aware of concerns expressed by the joint managerial body for voluntary secondary schools in relation to increased insurance costs. Responsibility for arranging insurance cover on school property and against public liability is a matter for the managerial authorities of primary and secondary schools, which are privately owned. Also,...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In view of the rapidly escalating cost of providing the school transport service which has more than doubled since 1997, my Department is in the process of finalising a review.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The school building programme for 2004 is further testimony to this Government's ongoing commitment to addressing the historical educational infrastructural deficit. The programme provides for an unprecedented level of investment of some €387 million in providing new and upgraded schools around the country. By the end of this year, in excess of €2 billion will have expended in modernising...