Results 3,261-3,280 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Improvement Works (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that applications for funding for fencing works are appropriate to the Summer Works Scheme (SWS). In that regard, the Deputy may be aware that applications for the 2016 and 2017 SWS closed on 2nd December last. In addition, primary schools may prioritise improvement works to school buildings and grounds, including fencing, using their Minor Works grant which all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Funding (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: In light of continued pressures on the higher education system, former Minister Quinn established an expert group to examine future funding of higher education under the independent chairmanship of Peter Cassells. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy will be aware that additional resources are provided to pupils /students with particular special educational needs based on the submission of supporting documentation and assessment reports from a number of sources. These include assessment reports not only from staff from my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) but also from a range of professional staff...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department has recently completed demographic analyses at primary and post-primary level, using the Department's Geographical Information System, to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. The system uses data from the Central Statistics Office, Ordnance Survey Ireland, the Department of Social Protection and local authorities, in addition to information from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers is a new school established in September 2011 as a result of an amalgamation of two schools. The amalgamation was initiated by the school authorities in question and was the subject of local consultation and agreement. In the case of an amalgamation, the schools amalgamating are closed to form a new school having a new roll number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Minister that proposals for school amalgamations are a matter for the Patron/Trustees of the schools in question and are subject to approval by the Minister for Education and Skills. Schools proposing to amalgamate are invited to meet with relevant sections of my Department to inform their decision-making process. In accordance with the approach adopted for amalgamations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Governance (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Governance Manual for Primary Schools 2015-2019 is published on my Departments website at www.education.ie. In addition 10 copies of the manual are being distributed to each primary school. Each person appointed to the new Boards of Management should receive a manual with the remaining two copies to be provided to the Parents' Association. Schools that have yet to receive their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Religious Education (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The paper to which the Deputy refers was launched last month and is available on the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment's website at: . The consultation process is part of the ongoing implementation of the recommendations of the Report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. The outcome of the process will inform the development of a programme in Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications will be assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (0055/2015), is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to publish a list...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I have made enquiries with my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in relation to the child referred to in the Deputy's question and can inform him the she was the subject of an educational assessment by the NEPS psychologist assigned to her school earlier this year. The resulting assessment report, its findings and the psychologist's recommendations for action in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (8 Dec 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: Higher Education Fees (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was established on 6th November 2012 by the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 through an amalgamation of four predecessor agencies - the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC), the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC), the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I published the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill in early April of this year. The Bill is on the Government's legislative programme for enactment in this session. The Bill provides an over-arching framework to ensure that how schools decide on who is enrolled and who is refused a place in schools is more structured, fair and transparent.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 to 527, inclusive, and 533 together. 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 resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. The expenditure provided by my Department to the DEIS programme at Primary level in 2014 was approximately €70m. The allocated funding for 2015 is also approximately €70m. DEIS Expenditure 2014 Description Expenditure 2014 DEIS Teaching Posts - Primary Level 33.1 HSCL Coordinators 13.7 Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Certification (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not aware of any specific issues relating to the matter raised. If the Deputy would like to write to me with more detail I will revert to her as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Mental Health Strategies (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is strongly supportive of the promotion of positive mental health awareness in both primary and post-primary schools and provides support and resources in this area. The Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health and to supporting those with a broad range of problems, behavioural emotional and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (8 Dec 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: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Dec 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 resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Dec 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy was approved devolved funding earlier this year to build two mainstream classrooms, to meet its 2015/16 accommodation needs. The school subsequently contacted my Department to request provision of interim temporary accommodation until the devolved permanent accommodation project is complete. The school's application for temporary...