Results 11,121-11,140 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the Second Stage of the Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015. I will provide a detailed explanation of the provisions of the Bill but first I want to highlight the background and main aims of this legislation. The Bill has two main aims. First, it will underpin the central...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all of the Deputies who contributed to the debate, in particular, the Opposition spokespersons for their support for the legislation. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien thanked the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for the very good summary of the Bill it had provided. I, too, thank the service for its work on the Bill. We do not always acknowledge its work in assisting our discussions...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Referral to Select Committee (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select sub-Committee on Education and Skills pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2A of Architectural Planning. The Patron Body and their Design Team are finalising the Stage 2A report for presentation to my Department. Upon completion of this presentation and submission of the report, subject to no issues arising, this project will be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Budget 2015 included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in schools on a county basis is not readily available. The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2011 to 2014 is available in the attached document. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: An application in relation to the proposed amalgamation of schools referred to by the Deputy has recently being received by my Department. This proposal is currently under consideration. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the Patron's Office and the Management Authority of the schools concerned to request further information in respect of the proposal. Once this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Budget 2015 included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The issue raised by the Deputy has been brought to the Teachers' Conciliation Council by representatives of the teachers concerned. The Teachers' Conciliation Council is the recognised forum for dealing with matters relating to pay and conditions of service of teachers. The parties to the forum include representatives of the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Éire 2016 (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Éire 2016' an clár oifigiúil Stáit a bheidh ann ar imeachtaí mar chomóradh ar 1916. Tá clár cuimsitheach gníomhaíochtaí á fhorbairt ag mo Roinn mar chomhartha aitheantais ar ionchur na hearnála oideachais chuig 'Éire 2016'. Tá mionsonraí an chláir seo á gcur i gcrích faoi láthair. Tá...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department accepts the NALA recommendation that plain English be embedded across the public sector. In that regard the use of plain English is an integral part of the Department's communications strategy. With regard to the Department's website, in 2012 training on "Writing for the Web" was delivered to staff responsible for publishing content on www.education.ie. Understanding the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under certain circumstances, school management in State funded recognised schools may grant a student an exemption from the study of Irish. Department circular 12/96 applies to primary schools funded by the Department and sets out the conditions under which an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted to primary pupils. Department circular M10/94 applies to post primary schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: In 2012 a public service-wide review of allowances was carried out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. As a result of the review, qualification allowances were abolished with effect from 1st February 2012. Department of Education and Skills Circular 0008/2013 outlines the effect of this decision on teachers. In Paragraph 12 of Circular 0008/2013 an exception is made in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2A of Architectural Planning. The Patron Body and their Design Team are finalising the Stage 2A report for presentation to my Department. Upon completion of this presentation and submission of the report, subject to no issues arising, this project will be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Budget 2015 included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in schools on a county basis is not readily available. The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2011 to 2014 is available in the attached document. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: An application in relation to the proposed amalgamation of schools referred to by the Deputy has recently being received by my Department. This proposal is currently under consideration. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the Patron's Office and the Management Authority of the schools concerned to request further information in respect of the proposal. Once this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...