Results 4,981-5,000 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This question indicates the number of different pressures there are on the budget and the different issues being raised in the context of any increased funding we will have. My focus in budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. This funding is being used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which had to be made in recent years presented challenges across all areas of public expenditure, including higher education. The sector has responded well to these challenges and has continued to provide opportunities for increasing numbers of students wishing to undertake a higher education qualification. In...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As Deputy McConalogue knows, there has been pressure across all sectors of the education system as well as across all Departments, because of the need to cut funding over the past number of years. The Deputy knows well why that was the case. The higher education sector has responded well to the increased student numbers and continues to provide an excellent education for people in Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The expert group has been established in recognition of the fact that the current situation may not be sustainable into the future. As I said earlier, the group will report at the end of this year, following which we will examine the options put forward. I agree with the Deputy that we need to plan for the future. On the contribution from students, my predecessor made it clear that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Healthy Living Strategies (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Primary schools are playing an active role in promoting healthy eating and physical activity among their students. Through the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme, which is mandatory at primary level, students learn about the importance of healthy eating and a balanced diet. Students are supported through the formal Physical Education (P.E.) curriculum to engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The ultimate objective of reform of the English Language Sector is to safeguard and improve the qualifications and the quality of the educational experience of international students who come to Ireland. One of the key reforms recently approved by Government to the student immigration system for international education is the removal of further education and vocational education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is extremely difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post primary levels. However it is self evident that the maintenance and running costs for second level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools. In general, second level schools are larger than primary schools and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Five Year Construction Plan, announced in 2012, contains details of the 275 major school projects that are planned to commence construction over the duration of the period of the Plan. In addition, arising from the Government's stimulus funding package, a further 44 school projects are also being progressed to construction. That...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Holidays (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As I have outlined in response to the Deputy's earlier priority question, Returning Officers are statutorily responsible for the conduct of elections and may, under electoral law, use school premises for this purpose. Schools that have been identified as polling stations do not require the approval of my Department to close on polling day and accordingly data in respect of the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department funds Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and provides co-financing to Skillnets but does not provide grants to employers to access training for their staff. In 2015, ETBs and IOTs will offer over 2,000 places on a variety of welding courses. Fees ranging from €350 to €450, depending on duration and type of course, are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run and there is a diverse range of English language courses on offer which vary considerably in duration and intensity. There are no plans to bring English language schools or English language teachers under the aegis of my Department. The Deputy will be aware that Government has recently approved a package of reforms to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is extremely difficult to make precise comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post primary levels. However it is self evident that the maintenance and running costs for second level schools are much greater on a unit cost basis than those in primary schools. In general, second level schools are larger than primary schools and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) was established as an independent agency in 2003 and has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. Students with specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, as well as those with physical conditions, are accommodated in the examinations under the SEC's scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (10 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: Schools Anti-Bullying Procedures (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department published new Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools at the beginning of the 2013/14 school year. These procedures are designed to give direction and guidance to school authorities and school personnel in preventing and tackling school-based bullying behaviour amongst its pupils. The procedures recognise that a positive school culture and climate is key...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Poverty (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The only recommendation in the report referred to by the Deputy that is relevant to my Department is that schools should provide 'food education' and support the development of cookery skills. Schools are already active in these areas. The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme provides students with the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make informed and healthier...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Drug Awareness Programmes (10 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which had to be made in recent years presented challenges across all areas of public expenditure, including higher education. The sector has responded well to these challenges and has continued to provide opportunities for increasing numbers of students to undertake a higher education qualification. However, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have acknowledged that bringing guidance within quota is challenging for schools but the alternative was to adjust the PTR staffing allocations. My Department helped shelter the impact for DEIS post-primary schools by improving their standard staffing allocations. Guidance and counselling is a whole school responsibility with guidance counsellors playing their part within an overall team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Jun 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Schools are not permitted to discriminate against an applicant for admission on any of the grounds set out in the Equal Status Act. Where a school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process is necessary. The Equal Status Act provides that a primary or post-primary school does not...