Results 681-700 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department is committed to providing a full educational psychological service to all schools. The National Educational Psychological Service has been expanding gradually on a national basis over the past few years in accordance with the Government's decision of February 1999. I am aware that, during this development phase of NEPS, some schools have experienced difficulties in accessing...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department received more than 8,400 applications for special education resources since 15 February, 2003. The batch of approximately 5,000 applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. Priority was given to almost 1,000 cases involving children starting school last September and all those cases were responded to at or before the commencement...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department received more than 8,400 applications for special education resources in primary schools since 15 February, 2003. The batch of approximately 5,000 applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. Priority was given to almost 1,000 cases involving children starting school last September and all those cases were responded to at or...

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

Noel Dempsey: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Science, I have made it clear, at every opportunity, that addressing educational disadvantage is my top priority. It is my intention to ensure that available educational resources are targeted at the most disadvantaged people in the education system at all levels. The overall pupil-teacher ratio at primary level has been improved...

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

Noel Dempsey: I have arranged for my officials to examine the matter of resource teaching provision for this pupil and contact will be made with the school in question shortly.

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Is that a question or a lecture?

Northern Ireland Issues. (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy is not entitled to dictate an answer.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Music, the visual arts and drama provide for sensory, emotional, intellectual and creative enrichment and contribute to the young person's holistic development and self esteem. Arts education, visual arts, music and drama, is one of the seven subject areas that comprise the primary curriculum, which was revised in 1999. The primary curriculum support programme, PCSP, provides professional...

Written Answers — Fógraíocht Ranna: Fógraíocht Ranna (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Tá sé i gceist agam Ceisteanna Uimh. 142, 143, 144 a fhreagairt le chéile. An cur chuige atá i bhfeidhm i dtaca le fógraíocht go ginearálta ná go ndeintear cinneadh i ngach cás ar leith, ag cur san áireamh na cúinsí a bhaineann leis an chás áirithe sin, mar shampla, an cineál ábhair atá i gceist, an dream a bhfuil an fógra dírithe air agus an riachtanas le luach ceart...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 155, 217 and 218 together. The school planning section has considered all applications for temporary accommodation for 2004. A list of successful applicants has been published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. In the context of the available funding and the number of applications for that funding, it was not possible to approve all...

Written Answers — Third Level Entry Requirements: Third Level Entry Requirements (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Overall decisions on the criteria for entry to higher education are a matter of academic decision for each individual institution. The allocation of standard entry places on the basis of application through the CAO is solely on the basis that an applicant satisfies the academic entry requirements of a higher education institution for the course to which they are seeking entry. In the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department received applications for special education resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy. Approximately 5,000 applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including those from the school in question, are being considered at present. Priority was given to almost 1,000 cases involving children starting school last September and all...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 149 and 172 together. The school in question has the services of a shared learning support teacher. In addition, 10.5 hours part-time resource teaching support has been sanctioned at the school. I can confirm that my Department received applications for additional special educational resource, SER, from the school in November 2003 and February 2004. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: As previously stated to the Deputy, in the context of the available funding and the number of applications for that funding, only those schools with an absolute and demonstrated need for additional accommodation were approved. The application from the school to which the Deputy refers was not successful because it has available to it accommodation in its general purpose room, which could...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My officials have been involved in ongoing discussions on a weighted system of resource allocation with representative interests. At this stage it would be premature to anticipate the outcome for the schools in question. I can confirm, however, that the basic purpose of that review is to ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Gaelscoil an Longfoirt, County Longford, is currently operating from rented temporary accommodation. My Department provides 95% of the rental cost in grant aid. My Department is currently assisting the school in the acquisition of alternative temporary accommodation to facilitate increased enrolments. The long-term needs of the school will be considered in the context of a multi-annual...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The large-scale building project for the Ursuline College, Sligo, 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 stage 4/5, pre-tender documents, of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department's records show that the school referred to by the Deputy currently has the services of a shared learning support teacher. In 2000, as part of my Department's reading initiative, learning support guidelines were provided to all schools and were aimed at ensuring that all children achieve appropriate levels of literacy and numeracy during the course of their primary education. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: An application for grant-aid towards improvement works has been received from the management authority of Tiermohan national school, Donadea, Naas. The application is being assessed in the school planning section of my Department. When a decision has been taken in the matter, contact will be made directly with the school authority. Consideration of any new PPP projects will be based on an...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The pupil in question currently has the services of a special needs assistant. Special needs assistants may be approved to support a pupil who has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or other pupils. The criteria used for the assessment of the need for...