Results 11,541-11,560 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current position in relation to DEIS (Delivering Equality Of Delivering Opportunity in Schools) is that I expect to receive a report commissioned from the Economic and Social Research Institute on "Learning from DEIS" in the near future. I understand that this report will incorporate information in relation to the various inputs, processes and educational outcomes contained in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 783 and 784 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that differing teacher allocation ratios are applied under the General Allocation Model (GAM) in relation to boys, girls and mixed schools in order to account for differentials of prevalence of learning difficulty between boys and girls. The objective of this differentiation is to ensure that resources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the school to which he refers for funding for additional accommodation. The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The appeal of the student referred to by the deputy was heard by the independent Appeals Board on the 24th February 2015. The Appeals Board overturned the decision of the appeals officer. I understand that SUSI has implemented the Appeals Board's decision and that a letter issued to the student on 10 March 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently completing the advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All relevant statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Statistics (24 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: Bullying in Schools (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department published new Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. All Boards of Management are required to adopt and implement an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: When the moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility was introduced in 2009, the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools. These posts continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium was therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties posts of responsibility. The alleviation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to replace a slate roof at their school. As the scope of works for which funding is sought is outside the terms of the scheme it cannot be considered for funding. The management authority of the school has been informed of this decision. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Child Care Education (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I fully take on board the points made regarding investment in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and I, like other Cabinet members, would like to be in a position to increase our investment in ECEC to be in line with the OECD average but this is very much dependent on resource availability. Our options for future investment in ECEC are being analysed by an inter-Departmental group set...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year 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 2nd, 3rd and 4th classroom...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Following a Budget 2010 decision, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme. Students who qualify for the BTEA may, however, be considered for support for the student contribution under the student grant scheme provided they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for the individual institution. In addition to this funding, the HEA also provides a separate subsidy to institutions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 797 and 819 together. The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of health supports, including Speech and Language Therapy services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. The Health Service Executive is currently engaged in a major reconfiguration of its existing therapy resources for children with disabilities into geographically based multidisciplinary teams, as part of its National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age and the Rules for National Schools provide that a child must be at least 4 years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a National School. Although children are not obliged to attend school until the age of six, most children begin school in the September following their fourth birthday. The primary school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy the position of my Department in relation to the Assessment of Need process under the Disability Act 2005, is set out in my Departments Circular 0020/2011. This Circular notes that where a child under the age of 5 presents as having learning and or behavioural emotional or social difficulties in school, teachers should follow the approach to assessment and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department allocates significant resources to ensure that pupils with special educational needs can participate fully in education. My Department's policy is to promote a child-centred approach to education of children with special educational needs. Children should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) psychologist, from their National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Special Educational Needs Organiser, or from the National Behavioural Support...