Results 5,281-5,300 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (14 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. The National Council for Special Education's (NCSE) has advised that 165 valid applications have been received from schools to date, in respect of children with Down syndrome, not already supported through the NCSE annual allocation process. However, the allocation process for the 2015/16 school year has not concluded and additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (14 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department and will be forwarded to her as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (14 May 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 a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy will be aware that July Provision is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides July Provision for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 to 172, inclusive, together. An important part of my Department's remit is to ensure that structures and programmes are in place to give learners the opportunity to acquire relevant quality education and training that will provide them with the necessary skills to compete for jobs. According to the Annual Bulletins from the Expert Group on Future Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to replace a water tank and associated works at the school. My Department's Planning and Building Unit has sought further clarification from the school authority and this information is currently awaited. As soon as the information is received, a final decision will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools Closures (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: A number of measures have already been put in place to support students who have been affected by the English language school closures. A Task Force to assist students was established in 2014, and the report of the Taskforce was published on 2nd September 2014. On the basis of Marketing English in Ireland's (MEI) involvement with the Task Force, MEI schools have been assisting genuine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: July Provision is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides July Provision for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based provision may be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy is to provide for children with special educational needs, including autism, to be included in mainstream schools unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or the interests of the children with whom they are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: ETB school principals are appointed and employed by the 16 education and training boards and, accordingly, the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. My Department's Circular PPT 06/02 sets out the eligibility criteria for appointment to Principal posts in ETB schools. Candidates for appointment are required to have a minimum of five years' whole-time...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are now more additional resource teachers/learning support teachers in our schools than at any time previously. Over 11,000 resource and learning support teaching posts are currently allocated to schools, which is the highest level of resource teaching allocations that we have ever had. It will ensure that children with special educational needs can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been working with officials from Meath County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for new school accommodation for the school to which he refers. A number of site options have been appraised. While a site acquisition process is underway, given the commercial sensitivities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme (13 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no record of receiving an application for emergency funding from the school to which he refers. Details of the Emergency Works Scheme can be accessed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The main purpose of the Scheme is to ensure the availability of funding for urgent works to those schools that are most in need of resources as a...

Topical Issues: English Language Training Organisations (12 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: We certainly want to fix this and regulate the process as quickly as possible. That is why we announced the measures last year but, unfortunately, there was a court case taken and we had to address the issues raised by the decision of the court. It is important to reiterate that the vast majority of private providers of English language training in the State operate to a high standard. It...

Topical Issues: English Language Training Organisations (12 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: There would be a scheme in place whereby when the students pay money, it would be protected. We have not yet brought the recommendations to the Government. That is among the areas being examined, as well as what was announced in autumn last year that, unfortunately, were challenged in court. Along with my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, I want to get...

Topical Issues: English Language Training Organisations (12 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank both Deputies for raising this issue and share their concern for the students affected by the closures. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien has said 14 such schools have closed, but according to my figures, there have been 16 confirmed private English language school closures since April 2014 and approximately 5,000, mainly non-EEA, students have been affected. There was a disturbing level of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (12 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a devolved grant has been approved for works required to facilitate the amalgamation of the schools in question. The Patron and all other relevant parties have been notified in recent days that the amalgamation has been approved and will take effect from September 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Expenditure (12 May 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: This is an operational matter for the Tipperary Education and Training Board and I have asked them to contact the deputy directly in relation to his question.