Results 10,341-10,360 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools Closures (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 2nd September last, my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality and I jointly announced robust regulatory reforms to the International education sector in response to the closure of a number of private colleges. As part of that response, the Department of Justice and Equality has acted rapidly to bring reassurance to affected students regarding their immigration status. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools Closures (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not aware of any cases of international students who have been made homeless as a result of the private college closures. Officials from my Department have consulted with officials in the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service in the Department of Justice and Equality, Quality and Qualifications Ireland and the Irish Council for International Students on this matter - these are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Sign language is an option in the Leaving Certificate Applied. There is also an opportunity for students to learn sign language in the course of Transition Year. In addition, the Post-Primary Languages Initiative is developing a short course in sign language in the context of the new Junior Cycle. Furthermore, there are specific supports in place for students learning through Irish Sign...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, the school to which he refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The Five Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012, outlines the major school projects that are scheduled to commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Garda Vetting of Personnel (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The arrangements for garda vetting of teaching and non-teaching staff were introduced in September 2006. In late 2010, my Department issued Circular 0063/2010 which updated and clarified the requirements for Garda vetting as part of recruitment procedures for all teaching and non-teaching positions. This circular also sets out the vetting requirements of non-employees such as volunteers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Fhoireann Rannach (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Léiríodh trí shuirbhé a rinneadh ar fhoireann riaracháin mo Roinne in 2013 go bhfuil inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge ag tuairim is 10% den bhfoireann. Chuir 1.5% den bhfoireann riaracháin in iúl go raibh ardleibhéal inniúlachta sa Ghaeilge acu agus chuir 8.7% den bhfoireann in iúl go raibh meánleibhéal inniúlachta acu. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Officials from my Department have been working very closely with officials from Galway County Council to secure a suitable site for the school. I can confirm that a suitable site has been identified and the site acquisition process is at an advanced stage. However, as I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, there are commercial sensitivities associated with land acquisitions which limits the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The majority of primary and voluntary secondary schools in the Free Education Scheme now receive capitation grant assistance to provide for secretarial services. Within the capitation grant schemes, it is a matter for each individual school to decide how best to apply the grant funding to suit its particular needs and the Department does not stipulate how secretarial services are to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (9 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Officials from my Department have been working closely with Galway County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department and the County and City Managers' Association to identify and acquire a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that a suitable site has been identified and the site acquisition process is at an advanced stage.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Employment Data (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am informed that 7,306 job-seekers undertook training with Skillnets in 2013. An independent evaluation by Indecon International Economic Consultants of all Skillnets programmes and activity in 2013 gave the following levels of progression into employment for Skillnets unemployed trainees: The Training Networks Programme (TNP) and Finuas Networks Programme (Finuas) - 42% progression rate:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Data (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Tusla/EWS (and formerly NEWB) commissions an annual report on school attendance by the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, that provides national and county level data, but not school level data. Therefore it is not possible to provide information on individual schools. Schools complete an Annual Attendance Report after the end of each school year. These reports are sent by the Agency...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed at post-primary level in the coming years. This process includes an examination of the Ballymun area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gender Balance (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. I understand from data released by the HEA that women represent 43% of academic staff in the universities and institutes of technology. 21% of professors and associate professors in Irish universities are female, with the national average at 19%. This is not a problem that is unique to Ireland. The European Commission's 2012 report,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In my revised proposal for Junior Cycle, presented to the Teacher Unions on 10th November, I have set out a two pronged approach to assessment. It includes a combination of 60% of marks to be allocated to a final exam at the end of third year which will be set and marked by the SEC, alongside 40% of marks to be allocated for school based work such as portfolios and projects to be assessed by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151, 154 and 155 together. I put a revised proposal on the table on 10th November which is significantly different from that originally proposed. This has not been accepted by the teacher unions. Reform will be introduced gradually over a period of time and will only be fully implemented in September 2019 (for terminal examination in June 2022). In 2015,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: A new dedicated continuing professional development (CPD) service for schools - Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) was established by my Department in 2013. Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) has been established by my Department to provide effective support to schools in the context of their implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle. Support is available from JCT to all post-primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Appeals (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Section 12 of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, details the reserved functions of an Education and Training Board (ETB), to be performed by resolution of its members. Section 13 of the Education and Training Boards Act specifies that every function of an ETB that is not a reserved function shall be an executive function of the board and shall be performed by the Chief Executive of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department issues circulars and directives on a wide range of issues. They may include matters which have a direct bearing on the operation of Education and Training Boards (ETB). At all times my Department seeks to provide clarity in respect of matters referred to in such circulars or directives and to avoid situations where differing interpretations can be taken, whether by a Chief...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (10 Dec 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in...