Results 4,661-4,680 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current position relating to the school in question was outlined to the Deputy by my colleague, Minister Damien English, T.D., during the Topical Issue Debate on Tuesday last 23rd June. The Minister confirmed that my Department is committed to advancing the special school building project to the next stage as quickly as possible so that the building in question can be vacated and made...

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: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This year we have again increased the number of special classes which will open for 2015/16 school year with additional 149 special classes to open in September. This brings to over 1,000, the number of special classes in mainstream schools and represents a 17% increase over the 2014/15 number of special classes. In addition, 11,330 SNA posts, an increase of 365 posts, or over 3%, are...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of the matter referred to by the Deputy. It is not the policy of my Department to comment on individual cases. The general position is that in relation to the use of CCTV/surveillance cameras, all schools are subject to the Data Protection Acts and must ensure that any use of such equipment is carried out in compliance with these Acts. Concerns in relation to whether an...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The Programme for Government contains a commitment that "People of non-faith or minority religious backgrounds and publicly identified LGBT people should not be deterred from training or taking up employment as teachers in the state." A Private Members' Bill, the Employment Equality (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2013, was debated in Seanad Éireann in 2013. That Bill imposed a stricter test...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware that there are access issues for disabled students on the Saint Angela's campus. Saint Angela's is endeavouring to address these issues within the current limitations of the campus.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that over €2.2 billion in funding is being invested by my Department under its Five-Year School Capital Investment Plan (2012 – 2016). Over €1.5 billion of this is being allocated for the funding of major school building projects. The balance is being used for the additional accommodation scheme, the prefab replacement initiative, the...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Up until September 2012, an ex-quota allocation was provided for guidance in addition to the standard teacher allocation to post primary schools. This resource was allocated in accordance with pupil enrolment. 42% of second-level schools at the time were allocated at least 22 hours per week in respect of guidance (22 hours being the equivalent of one teaching post) while the remainder of the...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department will provide approximately €16 million in funding to first and second level schools to provide assistance for books in 2015. Increasing this funding by 30% in 2016 would cost approximately €4.8 million.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 542 together. I understand that most third level institutions provide chaplaincy services for their student body and decisions on such provision is a matter for the individual institutions as an autonomous bodies. My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500, 501 and 541 together. Institutes of Technology, as autonomous institutions under the terms of the Institutes of Technology Acts are responsible for the day to day management of their own affairs, including matters relating to the recruitment of staff. Therefore the basis on which chaplaincy appointments are made are matters for the institutes themselves...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60 million during 2015. That increase has provided funding for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs to be recruited for our schools, as well as funding important reforms. However, it was not possible to secure the funding which would be required to also...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding to the institutions and the internal disbursement of funding is then a matter for each individual institution. The recruitment of staff is a matter for individual higher education institutions as...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to inform the Deputy that a response has issued to the person in relation to this matter. In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998 the appointment of a Board of Management of a school is a matter for the relevant school patron. Section 16 of the Education Act provides that where a patron is satisfied that the functions of a Board are not being effectively...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Expert Group, which is chaired by a Senior Counsel, has been established. The Group comprises representatives from the Department, employer management bodies and trade unions. The Group has received submissions and is consulting with stakeholders. The Chairman will present his report to my Department when the Group's work is fully completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question has recently applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for the replacement of the school building in addition to substantial special needs provision, on a greenfield site to be provided by the Patron. The application is being assessed and input is being sought from the National Council for Special Education in respect of...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The staffing appeal process at primary level includes the provision whereby schools with a high concentration of pupils requiring English as an additional language (EAL) can apply for further additional temporary language support posts. The appeal criteria are set out in Circular 0005/2015. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal under the EAL criterion to the Primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (30 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: An appeal from the student referred to by the Deputy has not been received by the administrative support team to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 15 of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Responsibility for the appropriate supervision of students is therefore a matter for the individual Board of Management. Decisions in relation to educational tours by schools are a matter for each individual school. In accordance with...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will be aware the regulation of the schools system was not historically governed by legislation but rather by circular. The use of primary and secondary legislation is a relatively recent innovation since, in particular, the enactment of the Education Act 1998. The use of circulars enables the Department to deal with sometimes urgent or emergency-type issues promptly. They...