Results 12,501-12,520 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which had to be made in recent years presented challenges across all areas of public expenditure, including higher education. The sector has responded well to these challenges and has continued to provide opportunities for increasing numbers of students wishing to undertake a higher education qualification. In...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As Deputy McConalogue knows, there has been pressure across all sectors of the education system as well as across all Departments, because of the need to cut funding over the past number of years. The Deputy knows well why that was the case. The higher education sector has responded well to the increased student numbers and continues to provide an excellent education for people in Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The expert group has been established in recognition of the fact that the current situation may not be sustainable into the future. As I said earlier, the group will report at the end of this year, following which we will examine the options put forward. I agree with the Deputy that we need to plan for the future. On the contribution from students, my predecessor made it clear that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of the study referred to by the Deputy. In any discussion about guidance, it is important to note that guidance is a whole school responsibility and does not just involve the guidance counsellor. All teachers and school leaders have a role in the pastoral care of their students, including providing them with regular and ongoing guidance. All schools are required to provide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: When the measure was introduced, specific measures were implemented for DEIS schools to protect them, to some extent, from the changes relating to guidance. The idea was that they would get the extra resources to ensure that they protected guidance in their schools. As the Deputy said, we are reviewing DEIS and that is one area we can examine in the review to see what the schools have done...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: First, NEPS was extended to all mainstream schools in September 2013. The Deputy's point appears to be that there might be issues with the recruitment of staff, but I will revert to the Deputy on that if there are specific issues in that regard. We are also working on reforming the support system for children with special needs, but that will not be introduced this September except on a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This question indicates the number of different pressures there are on the budget and the different issues being raised in the context of any increased funding we will have. My focus in budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. This funding is being used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy certainly was there.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am delighted to have Deputy McGrath's endorsement and support because I will argue for extra funding for education, and the support of colleagues in the House is very welcome in that respect.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: We need to get the balance right between expenditure on areas like education and health, in particular, and whatever other measures will be taken in the budget. I will certainly be seeking extra funding. Addressing the pupil-teacher ratio as soon as we can, economically speaking, is something that should be done. Until now, I have only had enough money to be able to address some of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I agree with the Deputy and I see every day when I go into schools the particular importance of early years in school for children who come from homes where there may not be many books, or where parents do not have much time to engage with children. I agree with the Deputy, and that is one of the reasons I set up the early years inspection team for the educational element. That is why we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Returning officers are statutorily responsible for the conduct of elections and may, under electoral law, use school premises for this purpose. Schools that have been identified as polling stations do not require the approval of my Department to close on polling day and, accordingly, data in respect of the number of schools are not readily available within my Department. Overall...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I did not say I had no interest. 10 o’clock I said a commission is being set up, and that will have the opportunity to examine the entire area. Something it should examine is whether there are alternative locations but in terms of the places in my constituency where voting takes place, I am not sure if there are alternative locations in every area for the number of polling booths...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am just giving that as an example but there are many others of which I am aware.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not refusing to grasp any nettle.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have engaged and will engage again with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, and I am not refusing to grasp any nettle. In the rural areas the Deputy describes there may be alternative venues in various communities such as community halls, sports clubs and so on but in urban areas there is a large population in a smaller area more closely together. In terms of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Data (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This commission will be set up. That is the appropriate forum to deal with the issue. I will make representations to it in terms of the education side of it and we will try to ensure that, where possible, schools are not used for polling stations. The fact is that, ultimately, the responsibility is not mine. It lies within the other Department, and it has the authority to decide that a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have recently begun a process to renew the DEIS programme. This process involves a number of strands which will operate concurrently over the coming school year. These strands include, first, the current consultation with education partners on appropriate interventions to tackle educational disadvantage; second, the establishment of an interdepartmental group to ensure a joined-up...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will be happy to take suggestions on this from the Opposition spokespersons. I agree with the Deputy that we will have to ensure that we protect funding, and there will be issues around new schools coming in and protecting funding for existing schools. That will have to be central to the decisions that are made on foot of the review. Protecting that funding in terms of the allocation for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Disadvantaged Status (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I expect to get an update shortly on these matters in terms of the setting up of the groups and so on. I will come back to the Deputy when I have that information. I do not have an exact timeframe at this stage, and we are working on the terms of reference. I will come back to the Deputy as soon as I have that information.