Results 9,341-9,360 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (25 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 243 together. Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils. More favourable ratios operate in DEIS schools. Each one point...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (25 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Data in relation to enrolment figures in primary schools in the current school are not yet available to my Department. The number of pupils enrolled in individual schools is provided in the National School Annual Census and refers to the number of pupils enrolled as of the 30th of September in the given academic year. The National School Annual Census is generally returned by schools to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (25 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I acknowledge that the cost of the Gaeltacht Placement is a significant cost to students and their families. However, the decision to abolish the grants was not taken lightly, and it has to be viewed in the context of the prevailing requirement to reduce costs and achieve efficiencies where possible. In making difficult decisions such as this, priority was given to protecting resources for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy is held by SOLAS and I have asked them to reply directly to the Deputy with this information.

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 5) Bill: First Stage (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: No.

Double Taxation Relief: Motions (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move the following motions:That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft: Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) (Kingdom of Belgium) Order 2014,a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 22 September 2014. That Dáil Éireann approves the following Order in draft:Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income and Capital Gains) (Kingdom of Thailand)...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputies Paul Connaughton and Brendan Griffin for raising this important issue. I apologise that I was not able to attend the House to discuss this issue last week. The Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, and I were both appearing before the Select Committee on Education and Skills to discuss the Estimates. I note, however, that Deputy Brendan Griffin spoke about this issue...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: This is not an urban versus rural debate. I am aware of a school in an urban area that is in precisely the same position as Donaghpatrick national school in County Galway. For demographic reasons, it, too, will lose and subsequently have reinstated a development post. The issue in such cases is that demographics in the locality are changing from one year to the next. In asking me to...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, an appeals system is available to schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Department of Education and Skills Circular 0007/2014 sets out the criteria for the allocation of teaching posts to primary schools for the 2014/2015 school year. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The Staffing arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (30 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 which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, this school has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. In view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions Mergers (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take questions 490 and 508 together. A formal expression of interest was received by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) from Waterford Institute of Technology and Carlow Institute of Technology in applying for designation as a Technological University. The group has now passed the first stage of a four stage process and criteria for designation and can proceed to the second...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Playgrounds (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, my Department approved a significant devolved grant for the school in question to provide an extension which I understand was completed earlier this year. However in view of the need to prioritise available funding towards the provision of essential mainstream classroom accommodation, my Department is currently not in a position to consider applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Politics and Society subject will be made available to schools once the NCCA has advised my Department on a number of outstanding issues. No date has been set for its implementation in schools, pending the receipt of advice from the NCCA.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department, through the teacher support services, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) through secondment from their schools. These secondments are subject to annual review. The arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the in-service needs of teachers and other support priorities of the school system can be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Visiting Teacher Service (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 497 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the review of the Visiting Teacher Service was carried out in response to policy advice from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in May 2013, which recommended that the service should be reviewed. Accordingly, my Department commissioned an independent review of the service in line with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fee Paying Schools (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to inform the Deputy 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 Deputy. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot at this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Disputes (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of an issue at the school site referred to by the Deputy. I would encourage all parties involved to use the appropriate industrial relations channels to resolve this current matter. School building projects which are funded from public monies, including the school project in question, are required to use the forms of contract provided under the Capital Works Management Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has been in contact with the school referred to by the Deputy and has clarified the staffing arrangements for the 2014/15 school year.