Results 701-720 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The scope of the works referred to by the Deputy is appropriate for consideration under the summer works scheme, which was launched in December last. The closing date for applications under the 2004 scheme was 30 January, 2004. I note that the school did not make an application under this scheme. It is planned to invite applications for the 2005 scheme later this year and full details will be...

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

Noel Dempsey: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that funding for a building project at Cahergal, Tuam, County Galway, is being provided as part of the 2004 school building programme. This funding is being provided under a pilot initiative, which provides funding for boards of management to enable them address their accommodation needs without recourse to my Department. Boards of management control the rate...

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

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department received an application for a special needs assistant for the pupil referred to by the Deputy on 29 April 2004. The application will be considered by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities as quickly as possible thereafter.

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

Noel Dempsey: I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my earlier reply to Parliamentary Question No. 161 of 4 May 2004. I understand that there is adequate computer funding available to the school to cater for the educational needs of the pupil in question. It is a matter for the board of management to determine if the pupil is permitted to use the computer equipment outside of the school.

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

Noel Dempsey: Transitional arrangements for the introduction of a weighted system of allocation of special needs teaching resources are being developed at present in consultation with representative interests. Details of the allocation of these posts will be announced as soon as these arrangements have been finalised.

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department is considering options for the long-term accommodation needs 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 — School Transport: School Transport (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Under existing guidelines, post-primary pupils who reside no more than two miles from the route of service to their appropriate school are considered to have an adequate level of service. All the pupils referred to by the Deputy are currently availing of school transport and reside on the route of service or between 0.8 miles and 1.6 miles from the route of service to their school. The pupils...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department has received an application for the transfer of special needs assistant support to the school referred to by the Deputy and to increase the level of support to full time in respect of two pupils who are due to transfer to the school. This application is currently being considered and my officials will make contact with the school shortly in this regard.

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

Noel Dempsey: The large-scale building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This project is at stage 2, detailed sketch scheme, of architectural planning. It had been assigned a band 1 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising...

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

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, for the school referred to by the Deputy. The school currently has the services of one full time and one part time resource teaching posts, one shared learning support teaching post and two full time special needs assistants. Applications for SER received between 15 February and 31 August 2003...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (25 May 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The scope of works required at the school referred to by the Deputy is appropriate for consideration under the summer works scheme. While the school's application under that scheme for 2004 was unsuccessful, it is open to the school's management authority to reapply for the key priority works required at the school as part of the 2005 summer works scheme details of which will be announced...

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

Noel Dempsey: School planning section is responsible for planning the provision of suitable cost effective accommodation to underpin the delivery of first and second level education. Key functions of the section are ensuring that there are sufficient pupil places available at first and second level schools and that the use of existing accommodation is optimised. Assessing the need for new or additional...

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

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department has received an application to establish an inclusion class at the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is currently being considered and a response will issue to the school authorities as soon as a decision has been made.

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

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department has received on 27 April 2004, an application for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, are currently being considered. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September...

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

Noel Dempsey: The National Educational Welfare Board, established under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 has been given a lead role in developing co-ordinated supports and strategies to promote and encourage regular attendance at school and to ensure that young people remain actively involved in education up to early adulthood. Under the Education (Welfare) Act, the board of management of a recognised...

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

Noel Dempsey: The trustees of Greendale community school have notified my Department that a decision has been taken that the school should close. The timing of the actual closure has yet to be determined. Given the pattern of falling enrolments at the school, together with surplus capacity in the general area, my Department concurs with the trustees' recommendation. The Department's main role in a school...

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

Noel Dempsey: I wish to advise the Deputy that responsibility for the provision of the services referred to by the Deputy rests with the relevant health board. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on how the authority manages its resources. The Deputy may wish to take up the matter with the health board in question or with my colleague the Minister for Health and Children.

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together. The school referred to by the Deputy applied to my Department for improved accommodation in September 2000. The project is currently at stage 1/2/3 of architectural planning, detailed plans/costs. The future progress of this project will happen in the context of the multi-annual approach that I am adopting, further details of...

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

Noel Dempsey: During the past three years my Department has paid €2,656,527.17 for the settlement of claims brought by parents of children with special needs. Some €38,318.52 has been paid to date this year. With regard to the future, I accept that some claims will continue to be made against the state in the short to medium term. However I am confident that the number of such claims will reduce as a...

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

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that my Department received in January 2004, an application for a special needs assistant for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. The application will be considered by the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, and a response will issue to the school authorities as quickly as possible thereafter. My Department has no record of receiving an application from the school...