Results 13,981-14,000 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department takes the decision to establish new schools (primary and post-primary) in order to meet demographic need. When the demographics of an area require the establishment of a new school, then a process is conducted to allow for different patrons/bodies to be considered as patron of the new school. Parental preferences are central to this process and prospective patrons are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: New schools (primary and post-primary) are established in order to meet demographic need. A process is conducted to allow for different patrons/bodies to be considered as patron of a new school. It is open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply under this process. Parental preferences are central to this process and prospective patrons are required to provide evidence of demand for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy may be aware, I have recently commenced a process to renew the DEIS programme. The review process is being undertaken over the course of the current school year and will consider all issues pertaining to educational disadvantage. I hope to be in a position to make an overall proposal for the delivery of future interventions to tackle educational disadvantage after that. While...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 506 and 507 together. I understand that officials from my Department are in correspondence with the managerial authorities of St John's National School in relation to the post referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that my Department has recently received an application for additional accommodation from the school to which the Deputy refers. The application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been concluded.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are allocated to Special Schools and to mainstream Primary and Post Primary schools to assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the tender report for the school building project to which he refers has been received in my Department and is currently being assessed. Subject to no issues arising from the assessment it is envisaged that a Contractor will be appointed shortly thereafter.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Ministerial Representation 1504673/SR was received on 22nd September. The interim response issued on 23rd September. The response itself issued on 30th September, the text of which was as follows: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently discussing the new Wellbeing area of learning in Junior Cycle. Students will undertake learning in a new area entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (10 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level is being undertaken. The priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is in the process of concluding a report on the outcome of a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation will be needed from 2017 onwards. This exercise encompassed all areas of the country, including Kinnegad. I will announce the details of the new post-primary schools to be provided nationwide arising from this exercise in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the major building project for the school in question is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All statutory approvals including planning permission, fire and disability access certificates have been secured. The Design Team have also confirmed that tender documents are complete. Due to competing demands on my Department's capital budget...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of Primary and Post Primary schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. It is schools that employ teachers and not my Department. However my Department has issued a number of Circulars addressing this issue in recent years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Investment Projects (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The total capital investment provided by my Department to the primary and post-primary sectors as well as to the Higher Education sector is included on a county basis in the attachment in respect of 2015 to date. In addition, €26m has issued in respect of Research Activities, €14.7m has issued under the PPP programme and €5.5m has issued in respect of the Book Rental...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is in the process of concluding a report on the outcome of a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school accommodation will be needed from 2017 onwards. The demographic exercise encompassed all areas of the country, including the Johnstownbridge and Enfield areas in Co. Kildare. I will announce the details of the new post-primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The project to which the Deputy refers is devolved to the Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board for delivery. The project is at the early stages of architectural planning and the commencement of construction will be dependent on the progress of the project through the various stages of design and the Local Authority planning process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: An unsuccessful planning application including an appeal have delayed progression of the Celbridge Community College. Discussions are ongoing with the local authority to resolve the contentious issues. Pending finalisation of these matters unfortunately I am unable to provide a timeline for completion of the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The project to which the Deputy refers is devolved to the Kildare and Wicklow ETB for delivery. I understand that tenders for the project were recently received and a tender report is now being prepared. I expect the project to go on site early next year with a contract duration of some 18 months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (11 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Teachers are employed by the Boards of Management of recognised schools. It is therefore a matter for the Boards to choose the format applications for teaching positions must take. Where a Primary school chooses to accept electronic (e-mail) applications the procedures to be followed are set out in Section 2.3 of Appendix D of the Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure 2011.