Results 541-560 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Second Level Education: Second Level Education (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The report by ESRI-NCCA examines the experiences of students in their first year at post-primary school. It shows that although students have both positive and negative feelings about moving to a new school, most students settle into post-primary school quickly. Among the findings in the report are the possible negative effects that streaming of students by ability may have on how students...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has recently issued a circular, primary circular 02/04 seniority of primary teachers, to boards of management, principal teachers and all teaching staff in primary schools setting out the arrangements for determining seniority of teachers in primary schools and the responsibilities of the boards of management in this regard. The terms of the circular were agreed between my...

Written Answers — Commercial Promotions in Schools: Commercial Promotions in Schools (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I assure the Deputy that I share the concern implicit in his question that the use of educationally linked promotions should not exploit schools pupils and their parents. In the commercial world, private companies are free to promote their businesses in accordance with accepted marketing practices, such as the provision of vouchers which can be redeemed for a variety of purposes. There are...

Written Answers — School Admissions: School Admissions (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department held discussions with the education partners in late 2000 in the context of the requirement in section 15(2)(d) of the Education Act 1998 to publish school policy in relation to admissions, suspensions and expulsions, and the provision under section 29 for appeal to the Department against school decisions on these as they affected individual pupils. A number of options were put...

Written Answers — Summer Works Scheme: Summer Works Scheme (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: A total of 442 projects were sanctioned under the summer works scheme this year — 292 in primary schools and 150 in post-primary schools. This scheme, which will be funded to the extent of €31 million this year from overall capital allocations, is designed to fund small-scale works for those schools that are most in need of resources. It will allow schools to manage their individual...

Written Answers — Youth Work Act: Youth Work Act (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Youth Work Act 2001 was enacted on 1 December 2001 and provides a statutory basis for the development of youth work in Ireland. The Act followed on a widespread consultation process and provides a legal framework for the provision of youth work programmes and services to be organised by the Minister for Education and Science, the vocational education committees and national/regional youth...

Written Answers — Course Credit Transfers: Course Credit Transfers (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 74 and 87 together. The provision for credits and exemptions given by certain UK colleges for learning undertaken in post leaving certificate courses is on foot of individual decisions made by those colleges, rather than on the basis of any nationally established system. In Ireland, the higher education links scheme provides recognition for holders of...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Science, I have made it clear that addressing educational disadvantage is my top priority. By ensuring that available educational resources are targeted at the most disadvantaged people in the education system at all levels, my objective is to ensure that all young people leave the education system with a high quality education and related...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: As part of its evaluative role, my Department's inspectorate conducted a sample survey, in late 2002, of 25 primary schools which 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 — Educational Schemes: Educational Schemes (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The school meals scheme is administered by my colleague the Minister for Social and Family Affairs. In March 2003, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs launched the school meals initiative that provided additional funding of €2 million for the scheme. Following on discussions between officials of my Department and those of the Department of Social and Family Affairs, over 200 schools...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The National Educational Psychological Service has not published any reports that comment on the incidence of pupils in need of learning support or resource teaching. It has conducted a screening project in primary schools in two areas of the country but the findings are still being analysed, prior to submission of the report to my Department.

Written Answers — Standardised School Year: Standardised School Year (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The arrangements for the standardisation of breaks at Christmas and Easter and mid-terms were agreed at the Teachers Conciliation Council. The council comprises representatives of the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions and the Departments of Education and Science and Finance. The purpose of the discussions at the council was to implement a specific requirement in the...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Education (Welfare) Act was fully commenced on 5 July 2002. Under the Act, the National Educational Welfare Board was established to ensure that every child attends school regularly or otherwise receives an education. To discharge its responsibilities, the board is developing a nationwide service to provide welfare-focused services to children, families and schools. It has appointed a...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The 2004 financial provision for the National Educational Psychological Service NEPS, as provided for in the 2004 Revised Estimates Volume, is €14.546 million. This represents an increase of almost 8% on the 2003 financial outturn for NEPS. I am satisfied that this provision will enable NEPS to continue to develop and expand its service for 2004.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 May 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 — Linguistics Institute of Ireland: Linguistics Institute of Ireland (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: At an extraordinary general meeting of ITE, held on 18 July 2003, the company agreed to initiate a process of voluntary liquidation. This decision was a matter for the members in accordance with their memorandum and articles of association and relevant company law and was not related to financial considerations. I understand that a meeting of the executive committee of ITE on 5 December...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: An application for a second gaelscoil in Lucan was received in my Department in January last. In accordance with established procedures, the application was referred to the new schools advisory committee for its assessment and recommendation. The NSAC reported to me and my decisions regarding the recognition of new schools for September 2004 were based on that report. I am satisfied that any...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the issues raised by the INTO in relation to class size at primary level. The staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year. The number of mainstream posts sanctioned is determined by reference to a staffing schedule and is finalised for a particular school year following discussions between my...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Residential Institutions Redress Act was enacted on 10 April 2002. The Act provided for the establishment of the Residential Institutions Redress Board in order to provide a mechanism to make financial awards to victims of abuse to assist them in their recovery and enhance the quality of the remainder of their lives. It also provided an alternative to them having to pursue traumatic civil...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: It is the policy of my Department that all teachers working with children with special needs will have relevant training and continuing professional development. I have authorised a major expansion in the range of postgraduate training for teachers working with pupils with special needs in four colleges of education and UCD. In addition, I have authorised the introduction of a range of new...