Results 3,481-3,500 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my announcement earlier today of the new Construction Programme, for 2016-2021, which aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where significant demographic need has been established. The new Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools outside the plan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my announcement earlier today of the new Construction Programme, for 2016-2021, which aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where significant demographic need has been established. The new Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools outside the plan...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 510 together. I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my announcement earlier today of the new Construction Programme, for 2016-2021, which aims to prioritise new building projects and major extensions, including special schools, in areas where significant demographic need has been established. The new Programme also provides for devolved funding for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (17 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: School Placement (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Rainwater Harvesting Systems Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that rainwater harvesting systems were first trialled in 2004 and introduced for major school building projects in 2008. Since then all major school building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so, can incorporate a rainwater harvesting system. While fitting the systems in new schools during construction is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Industrial Relations (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Issues of local interest are discussed on an ongoing basis between management and trade unions within the education and training sector. At the time that the Lansdowne Road Agreement (LRA) was being negotiated, the Labour Relations Commission was asked to assist in resolving a number of sectoral matters. In that context, the following processes were established in the education and training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that Castlethorn Construction was not contracted to build Adamstown Community College. The construction of the school building was funded by my Department separately and it was procured under a traditional (design and build) contract, as opposed to a public private partnership arrangement. In relation to agreements in place with Castlethorn Construction, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy may be aware, a sports facility was originally planned for the site for Adamstown Community College and this was to be developed by a third party. Due to circumstances outside the Department's control, the facility was not delivered. Officials in the Department have engaged with the relevant parties with a view to reaching an acceptable outcome and the matter is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: 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 are also available. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The construction company referred to by the Deputy currently has no contracts to construct new school buildings. In line with National and EU procurement guidelines it is open to all construction companies including the company in question to tender for school building projects in the future.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The establishment process for new schools is a transparent, independent process that provides parents with an opportunity to express their preferred type of school. Details of the patronage determination process for the new school to which the Deputy refers will be published shortly and it will be open to all patrons/prospective patrons to apply. It would not be appropriate for the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: All applications for a maintenance grant are means tested based on the reckonable income for the previous tax year. Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme allows for the review of eligibility during the academic year, if there is a permanent change in circumstance, relating to a number of events including a drop in reckonable income which is likely to obtain for the duration of the approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: To be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate that he/she has been resident in the State for at least 3 years out of the 5 year period ending on the day before the start of their approved course of study. A similar residency requirement for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). This residency requirement takes cognisance of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 522 and 523 together. The position is that under my Department's free fees schemes, the Exchequer provides funding towards tuition fee costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology is required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: In response to the call for further substantial contributions towards the costs of redress made in the aftermath of the publication of the report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report), many of the congregations that were party to the 2002 Indemnity Agreement made voluntary offers which they valued at €348.51m, including cash, property and other elements....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that a number of sections of the EPSEN Act have been commenced, including those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to education of children. In light of the very difficult economic situation and the significant costs involved in fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 529 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that some €1.37 billion will be spent in support of children with Special Educational Needs this year, which represents approximately 15% of my Department's budget. The investment which is being made to support children with special educational needs is an area of spending which has been prioritised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Completion Programme (17 Nov 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: A total of 140 new schools have been constructed over the period 2011 to 2015. At primary level 103 new schools have been constructed and 37 new schools have been constructed for the post-primary sector. The names and roll numbers of all 140 schools are provided in the following tables. On the occasion of the announcement of the five year plan in March 2012, the focus was directed at...