Results 461-480 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: We cannot infringe the constitutional rights of the parents in legislation. The fact that the school is designated imposes an obligation on it to enrol the child, if the parents desire. It does not impose an obligation on the parents to send the child to that school so it does not infringe their rights in that sense.

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In the case of a school saying that it cannot take a child or cannot be designated to take a child with a physical disability, for practical reasons alternative arrangements would be necessary until that appeal was heard. If the child is wheelchair bound and the school does not have ramps, wide doors or whatever, an alternative would have to be found. The focus of the Bill, however, is to...

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 119: In page 15, between lines 22 and 23, to insert the following: "(6) If the Council fails or refuses to make a designation under subsection (1) at the request of parents under paragraph (b) of that subsection or fails or refuses to make such a designation of a particular school specified in their request (if such has been specified), the parents may appeal to the...

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In response to Deputy O'Sullivan's point regarding the use of the term "each child" in preference to "children", I draw her attention to the Interpretation Act where singular means plural and plural means singular. The Parliamentary Counsel is satisfied that it meets the requirements outlined by the Deputy. I accept her point, but it is clear in legal terms, although it may not be clearly...

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I accept Deputy O'Sullivan's point, but it can equally be said that in almost all cases the school will also be reasonable. I do not want to put principals in an impossible position. A great deal of discussion focused on the workload of principals. Let us be honest. There are awkward school principals but there are also awkward parents.

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: A balancing provision is better than giving one or the other an absolute and total right at all times. Making provision for appeals is a reasonable safeguard.

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In reviewing the education plan, the focus will be on establishing if the child is achieving the targets that have been set for him or her. There is a danger that what is proposed in amendment No. 121 could blur the focus by concentrating more on the provision of services rather than whether the targets set are being achieved. Deputy Crowe quoted me correctly in what I said on Committee...

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 122: In page 15, line 34, after "purposes" to insert "of".

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 123: In page 15, lines 42 and 43, to delete "child concerned is significantly failing to achieve the goals specified in the education plan" and substitute the following: "goals specified in the plan concerned have not been achieved".

Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003: Report Stage (Resumed). (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I move amendment No. 125: In page 16, lines 1 and 2, to delete "their child is not achieving the goals specified in the education plan" and substitute the following: "the goals specified in an education plan prepared in respect of their child are not being achieved".

Written Answers — Superannuation Benefits: Superannuation Benefits (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department will arrange for a refund in full of the net overpayment of superannuation contributions applicable in relation to the secondment period. The Qualifications (Education and Training) Act 1999 provides for superannuation schemes for staff who are direct employees of FETAC, HETAC and the National Qualifications Authority. Draft schemes have been prepared and are awaiting final...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the candidate in question completed the Bachelor of Science course in health, fitness and leisure studies in the 2003-04 academic year. I understand that this degree programme consists of two study blocks of 15 weeks each, separated by a six month work placement in industry. Under the terms of the third level student support schemes, grant-holders may be paid three equal...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: A total of 246 schools are due to have the number of approved mainstream teaching posts reduced for the 2004-05 school year. For the 2004-05 school year, I have decided that the determination by reference to enrolments in junior and senior classes at 30 September 2003 of teacher posts allocated for disadvantage will remain unchanged. A detailed review of educational disadvantage schemes is...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Special schools funded by the Department of Education and Science are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from four years of age until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th birthday. The Department of Health and Children has direct responsibility for provision for young adults over 18 years of age with special needs and my...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is considering a number of options for the long term accommodation of Gaelscoil Cholmcille including the possible purchase of a site. However, due to the commercial sensitivities surrounding site acquisitions, the Deputy will appreciate that I am unable to comment on specific site purchase issues.

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: At present, 128 institutions are listed on the Schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Act. Section 4 of the Act enables additional institutions that are identified as reformatory schools, industrial schools, orphanages, children's homes and special schools, in which children were placed and resident and in respect of which a public body had a regulatory or inspection function, to be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no record of having received an application for a special needs assistant from the school referred to by the Deputy. Any application received will be considered in the context of the criteria set out in the relevant Department circulars and the existing level of SER provision in the school.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department received applications for special educational resources, SER, for the school referred to by the Deputy. The position is that 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 last September and...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The issue raised by the Deputy is being considered by the State Examinations Commission, SEC, an independent body established on foot of a Government decision of 6 March 2003.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together. The revised rates of pay for part-time teachers in primary schools, including those employed in special schools, will be implemented as quickly as possible. Contact will be made with the management authorities of the schools in question as part of this process.