Results 2,641-2,660 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 8:In page 12, line 5, to delete “or appointed”.

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As discussed on Committee Stage, Deputy O'Brien's amendments Nos. 9, 38, 84, 87, 98 and 109 all relate either to the definition of trade union or use of the term "staff association". In all such cases, the standard wording used can be found in a wide range of similar legislation. Recent examples include the County Enterprise Boards (Dissolution) Act 2014, the Industrial Development...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will try to address some of the issues raised. I refer to the general point on access. On the concern that the number of students who currently attend institutes of technologies in the region might decline or that students would be less encouraged to do so, I wish to categorically state that is not the intention of the Bill. In fact, the Department is planning for consistent increases...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will address the various points raised by Deputies. With regard to the issue of time, the Second Stage debate was not guillotined and we had a long and good debate on Committee Stage. We also left sufficient time between Committee Stage and Report Stage to allow a significant number of amendments to be submitted by Opposition Deputies and a smaller number to be submitted by me in response...

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Report Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy O'Brien for his comments. My officials did brief Opposition members. I met some members of the Teachers' Union of Ireland, TUI, who expressed concerns to me. We had met them before that also. I have a number of amendments tabled that I hope address some of the issues raised by the two Opposition Deputies here in the Chamber, Deputies Jonathan O'Brien and Maureen O'Sullivan....

Technological Universities Bill 2015: Order for Report Stage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed) (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to join in welcoming Mr. Bernard Dunne and the staff of the Chinese Embassy, some of whom I have already met. I also wish to welcome the school students from Enniskillen who are in the Visitors Gallery. I met them coming in the door earlier. I thank Senator Craughwell for raising this issue. I absolutely concur with him that this is a very important issue. As he is aware, I...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed) (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: First, we are going to develop a transparent identification process. That work is under way at the moment. Any school that meets the criteria for inclusion in the new programme will be included and that is an undertaking. Second, a forum will take place in the spring. I do not know whether I will be the Minister at that point but I thank the Senator for his good wishes.

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed) (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: One way or the other, a forum will be held in the spring to further engage with relevant stakeholders on the review process. This will include a discussion on the process used to identify schools for inclusion and the proposed framework of supports to be deployed. I imagine that the issues about interdepartmental co-operation and whether certain things should move from one Department to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters (Resumed) (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is good to hear, Senator. We all know that this is an important programme. For example, literacy and numeracy results in DEIS schools have improved significantly. We want to make sure that we keep what is good about the programme but we must also broaden opportunities for schools like the one mentioned by the Senator that are excluded at the moment.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has received correspondence from Donegal ETB regarding the proposed purchase of these lands and has conveyed approval in principle to Donegal ETB for the purchase to proceed, subject to standard terms and conditions.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is aware of the proposed intention of the school to transfer and install a prefabricated building. The matter concerned is under consideration and my Department will be in contact with the school in the matter shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy may be aware, in the management of a capital programme, periodically it is necessary to review the scheduling of construction projects within the overall programme. In this context, my Department is currently conducting an expenditure profiling exercise, which will determine when projects, including the project referred to by the Deputy, can advance to site. When the expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has prioritised the roll out of high-speed symmetrical 100Mbit/s broadband to post-primary schools. This has been a very successful initiative which is enhancing our young people's learning opportunities. In accordance with the recently published Digital Strategy for schools, we will continue to invest in school connectivity across the sectors but giving priority to primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: The teacher exchange scheme is designed to facilitate primary teachers to temporarily exchange their posts for education purposes. Under the present scheme the minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years. The Teacher Conciliation Council is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers and was set up to deal with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department recently sanctioned a major capital project at the school comprising eight additional classrooms to meet the school's immediate accommodation needs. My Department provided in excess of €1.2m for the project, which was completed last November.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Electoral Commission Administration (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, matters relating to the holding of elections and referenda are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. The Deputy will also be aware that Returning Officers are statutorily responsible for the conduct of elections and may, under electoral law, use school premises for this purpose. In relation to polling...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has confirmed the need for a new school building to be provided for the school referred to by the Deputy and in that regard a Major Capital Building Project for the school has been included in the 6 Year Construction Programme. I can advise that officials in the Department are currently working closely with officials from Galway County Council in relation to the acquisition...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: The acquisition process of a suitable permanent site for the new post primary school to serve the Ballinteer/Stepaside area is currently underway. Due to commercial sensitivities I am not in a position to provide any further details at this time. In the interim, officials in my Department are working on the provision of suitable temporary accommodation for this school.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is envisaged that the patronage determination process for the new primary school which will open in September 2016 to serve the Goatstown/Stillorgan area will commence shortly. It will be open to all patrons and prospective patrons to apply for patronage of this school under this process.