Results 11,221-11,240 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Before I start reading my reply, I remind the Deputy that one of the first things I said when I was appointed as Minister was that I considered the area of early childhood care and education to be very important. I have put a number of measures in place in my capacity as the Minister responsible for the educational content of early childhood provision. The Minister for Children and Youth...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I agree that early years education is vitally important to children, particularly those whose homes may not offer the kind of support other homes do in terms of books, vocabulary and the things that make a difference to a child in being ready to benefit from the education system. That is why I made the area a particular priority when I became the Minister for Education and Skills. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Early Child Care Education (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: One of the problems is that many of the providers are private companies and individuals that are paying people working in the sector. In turn, the parents are providing funding. We are coming from a low base in this area and there has been practically no progress for many years compared to that made in other countries. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly, told...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the existing allocation system, all pupils with Down's syndrome, including those with mild general learning difficulties, are entitled to receive additional teaching support. Support is provided from a school's general allocation model hours, or from an allocation of additional resource teacher hours allocated to schools by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. In the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On the question of children who are diagnosed as having mild intellectual disabilities in the context of the Down's syndrome spectrum, the position in this regard was clearly explained to me by the parents of those children. They also outlined the fact that their children need supports and greater certainty regarding the supports they obtain in school. On when a decision will be made, I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: One of the issues that emerged for me from those meetings is that while the general allocation model may have been designed to support children who have a mild disability of any kind, parents feel that it is not addressing the needs of their children. That is why it is under active consideration.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I recently announced that I am not proposing to change the way teachers are allocated to schools for children with special educational needs for the coming school year. In the consultations, there was a broad welcome for the proposed new model from parents, disability groups, schools and stakeholders. However, there has not been sufficient time to address all of the concerns which have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: We have done some initial work in that regard because when we were considering whether to introduce the new model we needed to estimate how much it would cost and how it would impact schools. I do not have specific figures for the Deputy, however. One of the purposes of the pilot is to gather information about how the model would affect schools. I accept the Deputy's point that if a school...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: We can look at what that would cost. One of the factors is that there is an increase every year in the numbers of resource teachers and SNAs on foot of demographic changes. If one was to adopt an approach where one would hold what one had, there might be an impact if the pattern were to change and a number of children with particular needs were to enter during the school year. Even if it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: It would be based on assessed needs depending on the type of school it was. The matter becomes quite complex when one starts to look at the effect on individual schools. This illustrates one of the reasons we were not ready to bring it forward this year. We must ensure we are fair to all children. This is obviously a very sensitive issue in terms of each child's needs, no matter what...

Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The full text of Dr. Travers's proposal document is available on my Department's website. Both sides were asked to confirm whether they accepted or rejected it as a basis for agreement. While the proposal put forward by Dr. Travers requires significant further compromise on my part, I have indicated to him that I am prepared to accept it as a basis for agreement. In doing so I acknowledged...

Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: With regard to this year's exams I welcome the fact that the unions have not set any further dates for strike action but they have not suspended their industrial action and therefore, we cannot be certain. However, it is my strong hope they will not proceed with any further action and that there will be no disruption this year. The unions will recognise that we are very close to the exams...

Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My door is open whenever the teacher unions want to reconsider Dr. Travers's proposals. I will be happy to engage with them but, as of now, I have an obligation to proceed with the reforms.

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I consider that the report of the value-for-money review of small primary schools provides a solid research basis for future discussions regarding small schools. It outlines the number, type and location of small schools and this information is very useful in considering any reorganisation proposals . In many parts of our country, small schools play a central part in local communities,...

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is a difference between isolated small schools and small schools in general. This is the reason we have made a particular provision for small schools that are more than 8 km from another school. I note the importance of this provision for the communities in question. With regard to other small schools, the approach taken in the report is dictatorial, with a requirement that they...

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The first point to make is that we will not force any small school to close. Second, one of the reasons for the cutbacks across all Departments in recent years was the damage caused by the Deputy's party to the economy before we took office. All Departments had to cut expenditure and my Department was no exception. We have since restored some of the grants to which the Deputy referred....

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Department has received a number of comments on and queries about certain aspects of the primary online database, POD, including the retention period for POD data and other data protection concerns. The Department is taking this feedback very seriously and considering the submissions received from parents and other stakeholders. The Department is consulting the Data Protection...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As this information will be used in the 2016-17 academic year, we have a period of time in which to address these issues. I questioned the reason the information requested under FOI was not given and I understand it was because it is normal, when deliberations are ongoing, that FOI requests are not granted. In other words, this matter still is under discussion, is not a final and set...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: To answer the Deputy directly, the Department is consulting with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and once this evaluation is complete, the Department will issue an updated circular on the POD. One issue is the one I already have stated publicly I would reconsider, namely, the length of time the data are held. It is one of the issues under consideration.

Other Questions: Schools Inspections (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am conscious that the physical environments of the classroom and the school play an important role in ensuring good quality teaching and learning can take place in schools. That is why my Department is investing in building new schools and improving existing buildings. Almost €2 billion in funding is being invested under our five-year capital plan. Almost 320 major school and...