Results 321-340 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

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 — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I do not accept that there is ongoing confrontation with the teacher unions. Both my officials and I continue to engage with the teacher unions in a meaningful way on all matters relating to the education system. Consultation with all the education partners is crucial to the ongoing development of our education system. In that regard I launched Your Education System a process of national...

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

Noel Dempsey: Most colleges offering PLC courses are operated under the management of the vocational education committees and funding is provided for pay and non-pay costs on the basis of the approved number of places on approved courses run by the colleges. In the current academic year the enrolments on PLC courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved by my...

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

Noel Dempsey: Data available from the Central Applications Office indicates trends in applications for places in higher education institutions, provided through the CAO. At an overall level, the data shows a year on year decline in total first preference applications, from 55,239 to 54,263 for degree courses and from 47,571 to 43,305 from diploma and certificate courses from 2003 to 2004. This decline...

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

Noel Dempsey: The recruitment of a principal of a primary school is a matter for the board of management of the school concerned. My Department does not hold any statistics in relation to the number of applications for principalship received by boards of management. I acknowledge and appreciate that the post of school principal is of critical importance in the management of primary education. In recent...

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

Noel Dempsey: I am committed to providing for all children and young persons with special needs in the education system. The precise nature and level of support provided is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child. Reports on psychological assessments are required by my Department in support of applications for additional resources in primary and post-primary schools on behalf of...

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

Noel Dempsey: The loading on all school buses is determined by the relevant sections of the Road Traffic (Construction, Equipment and Use of Vehicles) Regulations which are laid down by the Department of Transport. One of the consequences of ending the 3:2 arrangement on school transport is that additional seats will be required. It is inevitable, therefore, that the cost of operating the school transport...

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

Noel Dempsey: Most colleges offering PLC courses are operated under the management of the vocational education committees and funding is provided for pay and non-pay costs on the basis of the approved number of places on approved courses run by the colleges. In the current academic year the enrolments on PLC courses in certain schools and colleges have exceeded the number of places approved by my...

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 designed to identify efficiencies and savings in all sectors which can contribute to a containment of the cost of the school transport service. No decision has been taken regarding the implementation of any specific...

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

Noel Dempsey: The position in relation to the school to which the Deputy refers is that an application for grant-aid towards additional accommodation has been received from the management authority. When publishing the 2004 school building programme, I outlined that my strategy going forward will be grounded in capital investment based on multi-annual allocations. My officials are reviewing all projects...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department is actively considering the application referred to by the Deputy. My officials are liaising with my Department's inspectorate, the National Educational Psychological Service and the patron bodies in this regard and a response will issue to the applicants as quickly as possible.

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

Noel Dempsey: The large-scale building project for St. Kilian's in Tallaght is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project is at early architectural planning. It has been assigned a "band 3" rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. Indicative...

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

Noel Dempsey: A large scale building project for Scoil Chaitríona, Bóthar Móbhí, Dublin 9 is listed in section 9 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project is at early stages of architectural planning. It has been assigned a "band 2" rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale...

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

Noel Dempsey: A special needs assistant, SNA, may be approved to assist a pupil who has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where behaviour is such that the pupil is a danger to him or herself or other pupils. The current criteria used in connection with the allocation of SNA support are outlined in Circular 07/02 which issued to...

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

Noel Dempsey: A response to the letter dated 12 February 2004 will issue as soon as the postal dispute allows. Meanwhile, I confirm that my Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy, including an application for the pupil in question. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including the application for...

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

Noel Dempsey: Funding for a building project at St. Nicholas primary school, Adare is being provided as part of the 2004 school building programme. This funding is being provided under a pilot initiative which provides funding to boards of management to enable them to address their accommodation needs without recourse to my Department. Boards of management control the rate of progression of their...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school to which the Deputy referred, including an application for the pupil in question. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Ancillary services grants towards the cost of caretaking and secretarial services were paid by my Department in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy as follows: 2002, €16,537; 2003, €19,441; and 2004, €19,177. The board of management has discretion as to division of this grant between caretaking and secretarial services.

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

Noel Dempsey: It will be open to the management authority of Scoil Naomh Mhuire, Belcruit, Kincasslagh, County Donegal to apply for consideration of proposed works under the 2005 summer works scheme, details of which will be announced later this year. I introduced the summer works scheme this year to cater for small scale works that can be planned and delivered during the summer holidays. The list of...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (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.