Results 2,721-2,740 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that applications for capital funding for additional accommodation has been received from the school, referred to by the Deputy. The school authority has been requested to submit revised proposals and costings for the minimum works necessary to enable the pupil, in question, enroll. As soon as this information is received and considered, the school authority will be informed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware officials from my Department are engaged in discussions with the developer in question with a view to ensuring that the sports facilities for the school are delivered. Officials in my Department received a proposal from the developer which would possibly facilitate the delivery of the facilities. The proposal was assessed by my Department and my officials have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Administration (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is responsible for the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) regulations for commercial drivers. I understand that training is provided by a range of Road Safety Authority approved providers. SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority has informed me that the Education and Training Boards provide the following training programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's Planning and Building has received both application from the school in question. The application of additional accommodation is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority shortly. In relation to the Emergency Works application the school authority have been requested to submit revised proposals and costing for the minimum works...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (20 Jan 2016)

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. Staffing Circular 0005/2015 which is available on the Department website sets out the staffing arrangements for primary schools for the 2015/16 school year and includes the allocation process for schools to meet their NCSE approved resource hour...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's Planning and Building Unit has no record of receiving an application for funding from the school referred to by the Deputy. If the school in question considers that there are works of an emergency nature requiring attention it is open to the school authority to submit an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. Details of the scheme, together...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 17th November 2015, following the latest demographic exercises to identify where the pressure for school places nationwide will arise, I announced the establishment of 4 new primary schools and 9 new post-primary schools to open in 2017 and 2018, including a new post-primary school which will open in 2017 to serve the Portlaoise area. As the Deputy may be aware, a Memorandum of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, provisional recognition was granted for the establishment of Gaelcholáiste Chineal Eoghain based on pupil projections reaching 60 students. However enrolment figures achieved by the Gaelcholaiste have fallen short of the projected enrolments which has raised concerns about the future sustainability of the Gaelcholáiste. In March 2013, a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: Based on the number of students that qualified for free fees funding, and taking into account projections in student numbers, it is estimated that net cost to my Department of reducing the Student Contribution to €500 would be €170m; to €1,000 would be €136m; to €1,500 would be €102m; to €2,000 would be €68m and to €2,500 would be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Representations (20 Jan 2016)

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: Schools Refurbishment (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: Over the period 2011 to 2015 a large scale extension and refurbishment project was completed at Scoil Brigid's Girls National School which provided an additional 56 permanent school places while approval for an additional classroom providing 28 additional school places has been issued in respect of Gaelscoil Naomh Padraig. The total capital investment to date associated with the school place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: Based on the 2014/15 academic year – SUSI paid the non-adjacent rate of maintenance grant to 8,392 students where the reckonable income was below €30,000, and where the students did not qualify for the Special rate of maintenance grant. These students would have received a grant of €3,025. The additional cost of increasing this figure to €4,500 would be circa...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Design (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: Based on the 2014/15 academic year – SUSI paid the adjacent rate of maintenance grant to 8,346 students where the reckonable income was below €30,000 and where the students did not qualify for the Special rate of maintenance grant. These students would have received a grant of €1,215. The additional cost of increasing this figure to €1,750 would be circa €4.5m.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (20 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: SUSI paid out €147.3 million in maintenance grants for the 2014/15 academic year. A 5% increase in this figure would cost an additional €7.37 million.

Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects Status (19 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: While I share an interest in the Cork-Limerick road, I will confine my answer to the north ring road. As I said, I am taking this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, who has responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national road projects...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects Status (19 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: As a former Minister of State, Deputy Kelleher will well know that governments have to plan their expenditure on the basis of the money available. We had a collapsed economy following the last Government's tenure. We have had to be prudent in terms of the economic recovery which has only just begun thanks to the efforts we have made in recent years. We cannot spend what we have not got....

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy and I share his interest in this area. As he has just noted, the SENOs engage with schools and work with them to provide the necessary places. I first will outline the position with regard to children with autism. The Deputy is aware the Government is committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to...

Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: In response to the Deputy, I do not believe it is a funding issue. While I certainly can clarify that, I do not believe it is a funding issue because funding is not an obstacle that is put in the way of providing such special classes. I certainly can revert to the NCSE and check on the specific details of the school raised by the Deputy. The Department and I encourage schools but cannot...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects Status (19 Jan 2016)

Jan O'Sullivan: I should note I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Donohoe. He had intended to be present but unfortunately something has come up.