Results 301-320 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Higher Education: Higher Education (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Higher Education Authority, in light of the financial provision this year, is undertaking an in-depth review of the overall financial position of each university, including level of debt, assets, reserves and the financial position of the pension funds. The review may inform funding allocations by the HEA. A working group has been established to facilitate the review, to advise on the...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department provides funding to VECs to assist towards the child care expenses of participants in VTOS, Youthreach and senior Traveller centre programmes. The financial provision for childcare assistance for participants on these programmes for 2004 is €4.8 million. This compares with the initial budget in 2003 of just under €3 million. A working group comprising representatives of my...

Written Answers — Education Reports: Education Reports (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Commencing in October 2003, officials in my Department have had separate discussions with the management and staff representative interests in the sector to examine their respective priorities and to consider issues surrounding a number of the recommendations of the report, having regard to the implications for other areas of the education system. Discussions with regard to the issues raised...

Written Answers — Schools of Music: Schools of Music (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: On Thursday last I announced that the Government has given the go-ahead for the building of the new Cork School of Music at a capital cost of just under €60 million which includes fit out, equipment and professional fees. The new school will be the first full purpose built school of music in the country and will be built and operated by Jarvis projects as a public private partnership for 25...

Written Answers — School League Tables: School League Tables (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 187 together. It is desirable that parents have information about schools that is meaningful, fair and fully rounded. This information can often be anecdotal and based on hearsay. More recently, we have seen the introduction of an unofficial form of league table based upon third level entry patterns. All of this simply reflects the fact that we have...

Written Answers — Higher Education: Higher Education (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Institutions in the higher education sector are operating in an increasingly competitive and dynamic environment. To respond to the many challenges associated with this, institutions require modern corporate governance structures that both support dynamic decision-making and acknowledge the requirements for accountability to a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, including the...

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

Noel Dempsey: While I am concerned at the cost to the State of acquiring lands for providing new schools, my Department has a number of proactive strategies to ensure that the requirement for schools are addressed in a timely manner that provides value for money to the taxpayer. Officials in the school planning section of my Department are strengthening contacts already in place or making contact with the...

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

Noel Dempsey: Significant resources have been provided by my Department under the Schools IT 2000 Project 1998-2000, and the Blueprint for the Future of ICT in Irish Education 2001-2003. In addition to a range of advisory and training supports, capital grants were made available to schools for the development of their ICT infrastructure. The levels of capital support for first and second level schools,...

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

Noel Dempsey: In the matter of providing school places, my Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result in pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. Since Swords is an area of population growth there may be a demand in future years for additional provision in the area. Currently,...

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

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the issue of bullying in schools and my Department has moved to tackle it on a number of fronts. The education of students in primary and post-primary schools in relation to anti-bullying behaviour is a central part of the social, personal and health education curriculum. At post-primary level, the implementation of the SPHE curriculum at junior cycle has been supported by the...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I have no plans to review my decision to approve the introduction of a pro rata student service charge for FÁS apprentices while they are attending the institutes of technology. In 2003 I received requests from a number of governing bodies of institutes of technology for approval to apply the student service charge to defray the costs of registration, examinations and student services, to...

Written Answers — Suicide Incidence: Suicide Incidence (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The high rates of suicide by young males and issues relating to young men's alienation from society are matters of major concern to me, particularly as many of the young men who have taken their own lives were still in the education system. Within the curriculum, social, personal and health education provides for the development of personal and social skills including self-awareness, respect...

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

Noel Dempsey: The recruitment of special education needs organisers is a matter for the National Council for Special Education. The Office of the Civil Service and Local Appointments Commissioners is undertaking the recruitment process on behalf of the council. I am pleased to be able to tell the Deputy that the council has informed me that the recruitment process is almost complete and that it is expected...

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

Noel Dempsey: Tralee Educate Together national school, located at Collis-Sandes House is operating with provisional recognition from my Department since September 2002. An application for permanent recognition was submitted very recently to the school planning section of my Department and is currently being considered. Officials will contact the school authority when the application has been appraised.

Written Answers — Medical Education: Medical Education (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 265 together. As the Deputy may be aware, on 24 September 2003, together with my colleague the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, I announced details of the membership and terms of reference for a working group on undergraduate medical education and training which has been jointly established to make recommendations on the organisation...

Written Answers — Medical Education: Medical Education (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The projection model used in the report of the national task force on medical staffing — the Hanly Report — suggests a need for an average undergraduate intake per year of 767 students to supply the numbers required for the consultant-provided service proposed in the report. The working group on undergraduate medical education and training that has been charged with the task of making...

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

Noel Dempsey: I draw the Deputy's attention to the 2004 school building programme which was published in December 2003 and is available on my Department's website, www.education.ie. This publication outlines in county order all projects in architectural planning and at construction. The 2004 programme has been presented in a user friendly way to enable all interested parties to establish information in...

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

Noel Dempsey: Legislation regarding the fitting and use of seat belts on public vehicles is the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Transport. Under existing regulations the wearing of seat belts is not compulsory on all school buses. In operating the school transport scheme, Bus Éireann is fully compliant with all relevant regulations as laid down by the Department of Transport.

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

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the proposals made by the INTO in its recent report. At primary level, my Department recognises the rights of the different church authorities to design curricula in religious education and to supervise their teaching and implementation. This right is enshrined in the Education Act 1998. Consequently, although religious education is part of the curriculum for primary schools and...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: An amount of €630.5 million has been provided in the 2004 Estimates for universities and HEA designated institutions. I have no plans to provide additional funding to the sector this year. From 1997 to 2004 there has been an increase of almost €300 million in the recurrent provision to the university sector. This represents an increase of approximately 90% over this period. Overall...