Results 9,161-9,180 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Statistics (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools was gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. The final phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2014. Educational quality for the pupils has to be one of the main criteria in any consideration of primary school size....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Services (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 224 together. By way of context I can inform the Deputy that my Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting students with a broad range of problems. 'Mental health difficulties' are considered to be encompassed within the area of behavioural, emotional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220 to 223, inclusive, together. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations (RACE scheme) designed to assist candidates with special needs at the certificate examinations. Within the context of the RACE scheme the term 'special need' applies to candidates who have a physical disability, including visual and hearing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Statistics (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The staffing appeal process at primary level includes the provision whereby schools with a high concentration of pupils requiring English as an additional language (EAL) can apply for further additional temporary language support posts. The appeal criteria are set out in Circular 0007/2014. Appeals must be submitted to Primary Allocations Section, Department of Education and Skills, on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. I regret that the information requested in not collated in the format requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant applications of the student referred to by the Deputy and her sister are currently under review and the students will be informed directly of the outcome of the review. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I understand from SUSI that an overpayment of a grant is required to be repaid by the student referred to by the Deputy in accordance with the Student Support Act 2011 and the Student Grant Scheme. SUSI implements a repayment policy under which students are asked to agree a repayment plan that is appropriate to their circumstances. SUSI deals with such repayments carefully and sensitively...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Records (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In 2007, a Records Manager was appointed, under a two-year contract, to assist in formulating my Department's Records Retention and Disposition Schedule which sets out how long records should be held and the various disposition options. It is not the practice of my Department to employ an archivist to examine records and archives. My Department adheres to the provisions of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Records (18 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The costs involved in renting off-site storage for my Department's records is a matter for the Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to the rental of off-site storage. Each body under the aegis of my Department is responsible for the storage of its own records and the inforamtion is not centrally collated.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The main financial support available to students attending further and higher education courses is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fee Paying Schools (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 and 467 together. I wish to inform the Deputies that I have been in discussions with all the education partners, which included Pre-Budget matters. I met with the Joint Managerial Body which represents all voluntary secondary schools, including fee charging schools. I received their Pre-Budget 2015 submissions, which covered the matters raised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy was awarded a grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Suspension (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Circular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. The Five Year Plan prioritises new school building projects as well as major extensions in areas where a demographic need has been established. Stranorlar, where the school referred to is located, has not been identified by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Private Schools (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Five fee-charging schools have joined the Free Education Scheme since 2010/11. The estimated cost to the Department, as requested by the Deputy, is not readily available. My officials are currently compiling this information and it will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together. Circular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (23 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The costs associated with the abolition of fees and introduction of a loan system would be dependent on varying factors including administrative costs of a loan scheme and tuition costs associated with type study i.e. full-time or part-time, undergraduate or post-graduate, varying fees associated with different course types and higher fees for international students. The position is that...