Results 13,041-13,060 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This amendment concerns the appointment of a panel to conduct an inquiry under section 43 of the Act. The amendment proposes the replacement of Schedule 3 of the Principal Act. Much of the detail of Schedule 3 of the Principal Act is now dealt with in the proposed amendment to section 43. Accordingly, this is essentially a structural amendment, and all of its provisions already exist in...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Committee Stage (7 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This amendment was also considered in the Dáil and I have referred to having a review of Part 5 after three years following discussions with the teaching unions. What we are doing by way of this Bill is amending the original legislation upon which the council is based. The main purposes of the Bill under consideration are to underpin the Teaching Council's statutory functions in regard...

Topical Issues: Back to School Costs (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have seen the report of the Irish League of Credit Unions to which the Deputy refers. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as it is hugely important for parents throughout Ireland. I welcome the opportunity to debate it in the House. Everybody accepts that back to school costs place a burden on families. The Government is taking action to help reduce those costs and to provide...

Topical Issues: Back to School Costs (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I acknowledge that there have been reductions in capitation but that is one of the areas I hope to be able to examine in the budget. I should also refer to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.

Topical Issues: Back to School Costs (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On the code of conduct on schoolbooks, I will examine whether the code is being implemented and, if not, I will decide whether it needs to be reviewed. I understand, however, that schools are adhering to it. Deputy O'Brien also referred to the possibility of placing the code of conduct on a statutory footing. I will first ascertain whether schools are adhering to it. The Deputy and I...

Topical Issues: Back to School Costs (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Different schools have adopted different practices. In some schools, workbooks come under the rental scheme. While I am aware that these books cannot be reused, anecdotally, I understand that in some cases parents who rent the book that accompanies the workbook also receive a copy of the workbook. I admit this may not be the case in all schools. With regard to my powers under the Act,...

Topical Issues: Back to School Costs (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not sure that is the case. The advice I have received is that I cannot do so, but I will certainly examine the issue. Generally speaking, we have made some progress, particularly in book rental schemes. It is good to have an opportunity to emphasise that the voluntary contribution is voluntary. The Department should be informed if schools are telling parents that the contribution...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. Applications to establish such classes are considered by the school's assigned Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) and those meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying of Children (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is no requirement that schools report incidents of bullying behaviour to my Department. However, the Deputy may be aware that my Department published new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Internship Scheme Administration (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Training centres are run by individual Education and Training Boards (ETBs) rather than SOLAS. Information on waiting times would be a matter for the ETBs but they would very according to the type of programme, the means of recruitment and other factors. I am currently in the process of examining the implications of the report from the Apprenticeship Council in the light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Details of the amounts paid to community projects in Local Drugs Task Force Areas from 2011 to 2014 inclusive by my Department are set out in the attached table. The Deputy will wish to be aware that new applications for this funding are not being accepted. Payments to projects 2011-2014 inclusive Project 2011 2012 2013 2014 FamiliBase (previously Familiscope) €67,402...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Redeployment (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Arrangements for panel access for fixed-term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel for the 2015/16 school year are set out in Circular 0072/2014 which is available on the Department website. Applicants must meet all of the published criteria in order to gain access to the Supplementary Redeployment Panel. The teacher referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Visitor System (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: No visitor has been appointed to a university under Section 20 of the Universities Act 1997.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that I announced yesterday that I had secured Government approval for an additional 610 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts which may be made available for allocation to schools to support children with special educational needs with assessed care needs. From September, there will be 11,820 whole time...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that I announced yesterday that I had secured Government approval for an additional 610 Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts which may be made available for allocation to schools to support children with special educational needs with assessed care needs. From September there will be 11,820 whole time equivalent SNA posts available in schools to support children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are now more Resource Teachers available for allocation than ever before. As part of Budget 2015, I announced provision for an additional 480 Resource Teaching posts, to take into account increased demand and demographic growth and to ensure that children can continue to have access to additional supports in school. The total number of posts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education(NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating SNA support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The rates of grant and the income thresholds for the Student Grant Scheme are announced annually as part of the Budget. No changes to the rates or thresholds were included in Budget 2015. Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for the provision of car parking. As the scope of works for which funding was sought is outside the terms of the scheme, their application cannot be considered for funding. The school authority has been informed of this decision. It is open to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (8 Jul 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The traffic management system and signage on the Marlborough Street campus was formalised by the Department in order to ensure the safety of all users of the complex including staff, official visitors, contractors, children, parents, teachers/staff accessing Scoil Chaoimhín and the crèche located on the campus. The Department consulted with the Board of Management of Scoil...