Results 4,641-4,660 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Currently there are a range of supports available to learners, including lone parents, accessing educational opportunities. Learners on SOLAS training programmes and the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme are paid a training allowance in lieu of their Department of Social Protection payment. They are also eligible for meal and travel allowances and for childcare support under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The number of prefab units that have been rented by county each year since 2011, is attached for the Deputy's attention. It should be noted that a prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation. The rental cost of these prefabs was: Year Amount 2011 €20.49m 2012 €19.04m 2013 €15.84m 2014 €14.32m 2015 €13.94m...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I appreciate the concerns regarding the availability of accommodation for students and for that reason I have asked the HEA to report on this issue. The HEA are currently working on a draft report on student accommodation which will be available shortly and will give us an up to date picture of the situation. In that context, I will continue to work with Government colleagues and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Middletown Centre for Autism is a jointly funded initiative between my Department and the Department of Education in Northern Ireland supporting the promotion of excellence in the development of education to children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders. The centre is a second tier service to complement existing provision for children with autism and it provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy will be aware of the announcement in March 2014 of almost €72 million for school improvements under the first round of the Summer Works Scheme for 2014. Earlier this year, I announced a further €36 million investment in the final part of the Scheme, representing a total allocation of almost €108 million in the 2014/15 period. This completed the programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources have invested heavily in the roll out of high-speed 100 Mbit/sec broadband to all post-primary schools. This has been a very successful initiative which is enhancing our young people's digital skills. Ensuring that primary schools have good connectivity is challenging because we have 3,300 schools dispersed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Based on the demographic data for the north Kildare area, which has been provided to the Deputy, significant capital investment has been made in primary schools in that area to sufficiently address their accommodation needs for the foreseeable future. As always, the area will be kept under review. The extent of the increase in our demographics on a nationwide basis is such that the main...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On 5th May, I launched the Policy Proposals for Educational Provision in Gaeltacht areas with my colleague Minister Mc Hugh. Accompanying the launch was a consultation process whereby individuals and or organisations were invited by survey to provide their views on the policy proposals. Over 100 responses have been received to date. The closing date for responses to the survey is 3rd July....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Of the schools referred to by the Deputy, the first named school only that is identified in the details supplied has submitted an application for additional accommodation. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently approved a grant to the school for a learning support room. My Department has no record of receiving applications for additional accommodation from the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Average class size and the ratio of teachers to students are two important measures of the resources that we make available to schools. While our average class size at primary level is over 3 pupils higher than the OECD average it is only slightly above the OECD average in relation to PTR. My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Administration (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current "Bullying Prevention Policy – Complaints Procedure for ETB Staff" was agreed by the ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum. The policy has been implemented in the sector since 1 September 2013. It replaced a Code of Practices for Dealing with Bullying and Harassment, issued in September 2006. The ETBI/Unions' Consultative Forum provides a forum through which the discussion...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Expenditure (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of the research referred to by the Deputy. The Government's focus in recent years has been on stabilising the country's finances so as to ensure that funding could continue to be provided for the provision of essential services such as health, education and social protection. This is the best way of protecting and improving services. A key priority for funding at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (30 Jun 2015)

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. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the 2015/16...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Universities and institutes of technology, under the Universities Act 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Acts, are autonomous bodies and, as such, have responsibility for their own academic affairs, including issues relating to the admission of students. Therefore it is a matter for the institutes themselves to set admissions requirements for individual programmes of education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have previously expressed my concerns regarding the very serious shortcomings identified by the Equality Tribunal in the case brought be Dr Sheehy-Skeffington against NUI Galway. However, the response of NUI Galway in unreservedly accepting the ruling of the Tribunal and in establishing a Task Force to address related issues is to be welcomed. I have repeatedly stated my view that having...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I welcome the valuable findings in the Irish Heart Foundation Survey from 39 post primary schools published in April. The Government published "Healthy Ireland - A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013 - 2025". "Healthy Ireland" aims to improve the health not only of our students but also of our nation. Education has a key role to play in the "Healthy Ireland" agenda. In fact,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware a joint technical inspection of a number of potential site options for a proposed campus development in Buncrana has been conducted by officials from my Department and officials from Donegal County Council. A technical report is currently being compiled by the professional and technical staff from my Department. When the technical report has been completed, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership is being negotiated by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation (DJEI) on behalf of the Irish Government. My department are monitoring the negotiations which are now in the tenth round by actively engaging with DJEI throughout the negotiation process. It is intended that nothing in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy may be aware, I have recently commenced a process to renew the DEIS programme. Pending the outcome of this work, which will be ongoing during the next school year, I do not intend to make any changes to the current programme, including the addition of further schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Schools are already supporting students to develop the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed choices when faced with a range of difficult issues, including alcohol and drugs. This is mainly done through the Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which has a specific module on the use and misuse of a range of substances. SPHE is mandatory in all primary...