Results 11,281-11,300 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The position is that the provisions of the Job Sharing Scheme for Special Needs Assistants in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools are outlined in my Department's Circular Letter 41/2014. In accordance with the Circular, Special Needs Assistants may apply to share a wholetime post on a 50:50 basis i.e. 16 hours per week in both Primary and Post Primary Schools. The terms of the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is open to schools to submit applications for funding under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme to meet an immediate accommodation requirement because of increased enrolments and where an additional teacher is being appointed. The relevant application form concerned may be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Details of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Redeployment (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The teacher exchange scheme provides a facility for primary teachers to voluntarily exchange with a teacher in another school. The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years. The exchange scheme was agreed under the auspices of the Teacher's Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Redeployment (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The teacher exchange scheme is designed to facilitate permanent primary teachers to temporarily exchange their posts for educational purposes. The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years. A teacher's seniority in his/her own school shall not be affected by participating in a teacher exchange scheme. The core function of the redeployment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Primary Online Database (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The primary purpose of the Primary Online Database (POD) will be to monitor the education progress of primary pupils (in DES aided schools), throughout the primary system and onwards to post primary level and to help them develop their full educational potential. Once up and running other secondary purposes of POD will include becoming the basis for the allocation of teachers and capitation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The 2014 edition of the OECD's annual publication Education at a Glance reports that the ratio of academic staff to students in Irish higher education institutions is 1:19. The OECD average is 1:14 and the EU21 average is 1:16. This ratio, which was at the OECD average in 2008, has increased in recent years as a result of increasing student numbers and restrictions on staffing imposed under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year were published last week. They are set out in Department Circular 0005/2015 which is available on my Department's website at www.education.gov.ie. The circular sets out the improvements to the staffing schedule for the 2015/16 school year for small schools. These improvements are improved retention thresholds for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently engaged in drawing up suitable lease arrangements in relation to the site for the school in question. Once these arrangements have been finalised, my Department will be in a position to consider further the accommodation issues of the school, referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ombudsman for Children Remit (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: For the Deputy's information, the Ombudsman for Children has responsibility for the investigation of complaints relating to children, whether in relation to the administrative actions of the Department, or of schools and other institutions in the education sector. The Office of the Ombudsman has a related responsibility for the investigation of complaints in respect of adults in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Expenditure (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Minor Works Grant 2014/2015 issued to all primary schools in December 2014. Schools received a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil on the rolls on the 30th September 2013. The €74 rate applies to special needs pupils attending a special school and to special needs pupils attending a special class attached to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The school, to which the Deputy refers, has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension and refurbishment of its existing building. The current status of all applications, including for the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. As the Deputy will be aware, the school's request must be considered in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Details of primary and post primary schools in Co Galway that have rented prefab accommodation, together with the number of rented units, are contained in the following table. Please note that a prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation. Schools whose major projects are being progressed under my Department's 5-Year capital programme and schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (3 Mar 2015)

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: Schools Building Projects Status (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, the school in question was granted approval in February 2014 for a mainstream classroom with en-suite facilities to replace a prefab unit. The school concerned has since sought further capital funding to provide additional works. My Department has been in further contact with the school authorities seeking necessary clarifications regarding the proposed building...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (3 Mar 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: Public Sector Staff Retirements (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with the Superannuation scheme a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) who is not "a new entrant" under the terms of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, must retire at the end of the school year in which he/she reaches age 65. The abolition of the compulsory retirement age under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Since September 2012 the combined resources available for learning support (GAM/General Allocation Model at Primary) and language support (EAL) have been merged into a single simplified allocation process. A school's GAM/EAL allocation for the 2015/16 school year is based on its mainstream classroom posts for the 2014/15 school year. The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: All primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to provide for children with special educational or learning support needs through general allocation processes. Additionally, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocates additional resource teaching hours to schools for children who have been assessed within the low incidence, or more complex, category...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 and 506 together. The first step in the establishment of the school in question is the determination of a patron to operate the school. This process, which is overseen by the New Schools Establishment Group, has commenced. The closing date for the receipt of applications from Patrons and prospective Patrons is the 20th March 2015. I will announce the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at tender stage. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that the project will proceed to construction shortly. It is expected that the new school will be ready for occupation for the 2016/17 school year.