Results 11,441-11,460 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have requested that the NCCA include Politics and Society in their workplan. Based on their advice, it is intended that the new Leaving Certificate subject, Politics and Society, will be trialled in an initial cohort of schools who will express interest and capacity in trialling this subject from September 2016. The impact of the trial will be considered and then a decision will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: All new schools, either at primary level or post-primary level, are set up to meet specific demographic needs within defined geographical areas. As part of the patronage determination processes to establish who will operate new schools, prospective patrons must commit to enrolling, as a priority, pupils from the area for whom the school is intended. The Department would expect to see this in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Extracts of Budgets and Estimates material from 2010 to 2015 are set out for the Deputy's information. These extracts list the main features of each Budget in relation to my Department, including details of measures that reduced expenditure in each year.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Expenditure (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2011 provided for a number of student grant measures, which came into effect for the 2011/12, including the change in the assessment of the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 24 kilometres to 45 kilometres. The 24 km distance criterion was originally set in 1968. Since then, significant improvements have taken place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Major Building Project referred to is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b - Detailed Design which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been received. A report regarding cost adjustments has been received in my Department and is...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Schools Amalgamation (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Gabhaim buíochas don Seanadóir as ucht seans a thabhairt dom an cheist seo a phlé agus a bheith níos soiléire on the position of the amalgamation of three national schools in Greenhills - St. Paul's senior girls, St. Paul's junior girls and St. Peter's boys. In January 2014, the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of St. Paul the Apostle transferred the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Schools Amalgamation (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Certainly. Is the Senator asking about the sensory rooms in the special units or the accommodation in general?

Seanad: Commencement Matters: National Schools Amalgamation (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will come back to the Senator.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Universities Governance (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil imní ar an Seanadóir faoin cheist seo. Níl sé sásta leis an tascfhórsa atá curtha ar bun ag Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh.I am satisfied NUI Galway is being proactive in responding to the recent decision of the Equality Tribunal on gender discrimination, and is at the forefront of the universities sector in this respect....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Universities Governance (10 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I stated I am satisfied it is being proactive. It is a matter for it specifically, rather than for me, to establish the task force which it has done. It would probably argue this is not specifically an industrial relations matter. The Senator made the point the trade unions are not represented. I want to see proactive engagement on behalf of the higher education sector generally on these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Support Services Expenditure (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has published a Plan for the Implementation the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act. This report, which was published in 2006, made recommendations which suggested that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has already provided significant physical education ( P.E.) facilities at the newly constructed primary and post-primary schools at the educational campus of the school referred to in County Meath. Two general purpose rooms, three external ball courts and two junior play areas were provided at the new primary school. In addition, a P.E. hall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have no plans to return to a situation where there would be a separate allocation for guidance in schools. If economic recovery continues I hope the Government will be in a position to improve the standard staffing allocation to schools. However, I believe that it is desirable to give schools discretion on how to use those increased resources. Since September 2012 at post primary level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that under the existing allocation system, all pupils with Down syndrome, including pupils with mild general learning difficulties, are entitled to receive additional teaching support. Support is provided from a school's General Allocation Model (GAM) hours, or from an allocation of additional resource teacher hours allocated to schools by the NCSE. In the current...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy is being collated at present within my Department and will be made available to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has sought clarification on the issue and will reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: A new integrated primary languages curriculum is currently being developed for Junior Infants to 2nd classes by the NCCA. The integrated curriculum includes both English and Gaeilge. The idea of the new curriculum is to ensure that language skills are transferred effectively from one language to the other, whether that is through English or Irish. Such transferable skills will assist...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The nationwide demographic analysis to determine where additional post-primary accommodation may be needed from 2016 onwards is a significant exercise and is still ongoing. When the exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed. The content of a recent letter from the school in question is being considered in this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the availability and provision of health-related services, including speech and language therapy supports, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and matters in relation to the provision of such services should be directed to that body. My Department has no responsibility or mandate for such services. However, I wish to advise the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Protection (11 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I re-iterate that if the Deputy, or any other person, has a child protection concern regarding a school it should be reported to the Child and Family Agency. The Deputy's question is based on an individual case. The identities of the relevant persons concerned and of the school authorities involved have not been disclosed to me, and so in the particular circumstances the Deputy will...