Results 4,821-4,840 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (23 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: 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 criteria by which SNA support is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Protection (23 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The primary statutory responsibility for child protection lies with the Child and Family Agency, TUSLA. The role of my Department is to provide guidance and support to schools in implementing child protection policy and to refer any allegations received to the appropriate authorities for investigation. My Department has issued Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-primary Schools...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the Second Stage of the Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015. Before I turn to a more detailed explanation of the provisions of the Bill, I will explain its background and purpose. It caters for two overarching aims: underpinning the central role of the Teaching Council in the forthcoming statutory vetting arrangements for...

Seanad: Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (23 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all Senators for their contributions. Senator Cáit Keane said she wanted to receive a copy of proposed amendments on time. I will note that point, as I am sure my officials will to ensure the Senator will have time to consider them. Obviously, amendments will also be brought forward by Members of the Seanad, which is welcome. I agree with what has been said by a number of...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Oibreacha Feabhsúcháin do Scoileanna (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to clarify the current position on the school in Carraroe, County Galway. The Senator will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Primary enrolments, which have already risen substantially in recent years, are projected to rise by over 36,000 pupils by 2016 and are set to continue to rise, with a likely peak at around 574,000 pupils to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Oibreacha Feabhsúcháin do Scoileanna (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The coming days are relatively soon and if there is any delay I am sure the Senator or the school will contact me and let me know. With regard to the funding, I imagine it will not have to wait for the next five year capital funding programme, which will be from the beginning of 2016. Issues such as this, with regard to needed accommodation can be considered in the meantime so it would not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Workplace Safety (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current sick leave scheme for teachers provides for sick leave to be granted to a teacher who is unable to perform his/her duties because of illness or injury. The terms of the sick leave scheme are contained in my Department's Circular 0059/2014 Sick Leave Scheme for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools. My Department's Circular Letters 40/97 and M18/99...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Patron and management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy recently submitted a proposal regarding a proposed amalgamation with another school in the area from 1 September 2015. The Patron and relevant stakeholders were previously advised in advance of arriving at a final decision in the matter to consider the implications that any amalgamation proposal may have on school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: At post-primary level circular 25/12 emphasises that literacy and numeracy are cross-curricular skills which can be supported across the curriculum. It also provides that students should have access to a Mathematics lesson every day, particularly in Junior Cycle and that mathematics should be strengthened in Transition Year, where available. New syllabuses are in place at both junior and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The inclusion of children with additional needs at all levels of the education system is an integral element of government policy. Government investment in early childhood care and education services is funded primarily through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The Early Childhood Care and Education programme, which is funded by that Department, includes a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware that concerns have been raised by students about the content of the ordinary level Leaving Certificate Mathematics paper 1. I have asked the State Examinations Commission to bring these concerns to the attention of the Chief Examiner for the examination. Commentary and correspondence on the examination from teachers, professional bodies and other interested parties is considered by...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: European Court of Human Rights Judgments (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The position in relation to those cases that were not progressed for a number of reasons, including those which might have been discontinued after receiving letters from the State Claims Agency is that I asked the Agency to undertake a review to clarify the exact position as to whether the cases had been formally discontinued or not. The Agency has completed its review and my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that 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: Teacher Secondment (18 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions 241 and 242 together. My Department, through the teacher support services and education centres, engages teachers on a full time basis annually for the provision of continuing professional development (CPD) through secondment from their schools. Secondments are always subject to annual review and renewal. The arrangements provide flexibility and ensure that the...

Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (17 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On behalf of the Government, I thank Deputies from all sides of the House for their contribution to the debate in the past two days. It has been a very positive debate and broad support was expressed for delivering equality to all workers, in particular the teachers who feel oppressed by the current legislation. Deputy Catherine Murphy referred to the devastating effects of...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (17 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I understand the Deputy's intentions. However, in general, all legislation needs to be kept under review, in case some aspect of it is not operating in accordance with the intentions outlined during its passage. There will be opportunities to follow through on these issues in a variety of ways, including at an Oireachtas committee, if deemed necessary. The provisions of the Teaching...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (17 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I reiterate that what we are doing in this instance is amending the original legislation, specifically as it relates to vetting and the role of the teacher in terms of his or her fitness to teach. We have the usual checks and balances, including the committee which can examine legislation. Therefore, I do not believe it is necessary - it would not be common to do this in legislation - to...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (17 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The debate reflects that we need to find a balance and decide whether the default position is that hearings be public or private. Deputy McConalogue and I believe that the default position is that they should be public. I think such transparency sends a message and gives confidence in the profession. It still allows hearings to be held in private where that is judged to be appropriate. If...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Report and Final Stages (17 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Deputy Boyd Barrett is right in saying that this is about a balance between the public interest and the right of teachers to their privacy. It is about getting that balance right and making a decision as to where that balance should lie. That is why I have indicated that I will bring forward an amendment in the Seanad to provide that the balance should be, by default, in public but that in...