Results 12,841-12,860 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current "Bullying Prevention Policy – Complaints Procedure for ETB Staff" was agreed by the ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum. The policy has been implemented in the sector since 1 September 2013. It replaced a Code of Practices for Dealing with Bullying and Harassment, issued in September 2006. The ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum provides a forum through which the discussion...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Expenditure (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of the research referred to by the Deputy. The Government's focus in recent years has been on stabilising the country's finances so as to ensure that funding could continue to be provided for the provision of essential services such as health, education and social protection. This is the best way of protecting and improving services. A key priority for funding at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 for the 2015/16...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Universities and institutes of technology, under the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts, are autonomous bodies and, as such, have responsibility for their own academic affairs, including issues relating to the admission of students. Therefore it is a matter for the institutes themselves to set admissions requirements for individual programmes of education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have previously expressed my concerns regarding the very serious shortcomings identified by the Equality Tribunal in the case brought be Dr Sheehy-Skeffington against NUI Galway. However, the response of NUI Galway in unreservedly accepting the ruling of the Tribunal and in establishing a Task Force to address related issues is to be welcomed. I have repeatedly stated my view that having...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the valuable findings in the Irish Heart Foundation Survey from 39 post primary schools published in April. The Government published "Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025". "Healthy Ireland" aims to improve the health not only of our students but also of our nation. Education has a key role to play in the "Healthy Ireland" agenda. In fact,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware a joint technical inspection of a number of potential site options for a proposed campus development in Buncrana has been conducted by officials from my Department and officials from Donegal County Council. A technical report is currently being compiled by the professional and technical staff from my Department. When the technical report has been completed, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is being negotiated by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) on behalf of the Irish Government. My department are monitoring the negotiations which are now in the tenth round by actively engaging with DJEI throughout the negotiation process. It is intended that nothing in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy may be aware, I have recently commenced a process to renew the DEIS programme. Pending the outcome of this work, which will be ongoing during the next school year, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of further schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Schools are already supporting students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including alcohol and drugs. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which has a specific module on the use and misuse of a range of substances. SPHE is mandatory in all primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current position relating to the school in question was outlined to the Deputy by my colleague, Minister Damien English, T.D., during the Topical Issue Debate on Tuesday last 23rd June. The Minister confirmed that my Department is committed to advancing the special school building project to the next stage as quickly as possible so that the building in question can be vacated and made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Expenditure (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of the research referred to by the Deputy. The Government's focus in recent years has been on stabilising the country's finances so as to ensure that funding could continue to be provided for the provision of essential services such as health, education and social protection. This is the best way of protecting and improving services. A key priority for funding at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This year we have again increased the number of special classes which will open for 2015/16 school year with additional 149 special classes to open in September. This brings to over 1,000, the number of special classes in mainstream schools and represents a 17% increase over the 2014/15 number of special classes. In addition, 11,330 SNA posts, an increase of 365 posts, or over 3%, are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Data Protection (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy. It is not the policy of my Department to comment on individual cases. The general position is that in relation to the use of CCTV/surveillance cameras, all schools are subject to the Data Protection Acts and must ensure that any use of such equipment is carried out in compliance with these Acts. Concerns in relation to whether an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment that "People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the state." A Private Members' Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013, was debated in Seanad Éireann in 2013. That Bill imposed a stricter test...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware that there are access issues for disabled students on the Saint Angela's campus. Saint Angela's is endeavouring to address these issues within the current limitations of the campus.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that over €2.2 billion in funding is being invested by my Department under its Five-Year School Capital Investment Plan (2012 – 2016). Over €1.5 billion of this is being allocated for the funding of major school building projects. The balance is being used for the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Up until September 2012, an ex-quota allocation was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. This resource was allocated in accordance with pupil enrolment. 42% of second-level schools at the time were allocated at least 22 hours per week in respect of guidance (22 hours being the equivalent of one teaching post) while the remainder of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department will provide approximately €16 million in funding to first and second level schools to provide assistance for books in 2015. Increasing this funding by 30% in 2016 would cost approximately €4.8 million.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Institutions (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 542 together. I understand that most third level institutions provide chaplaincy services for their student body and decisions on such provision is a matter for the individual institutions as an autonomous bodies. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher...