Results 5,481-5,500 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The needs of the College will be considered in the context of budgetary resources and having regard to competing demands.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The school to which the Deputy refers is one of a number of schools which it was not possible to include in the 5 Year construction programme. However, given the accommodation issues arising in respect of the school, it has been decided that in order to facilitate progression of the future building project, my Department will be moving ahead with the appointment of a design team to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The European Studies Programme has been funded on a 50:50 basis by the Department of Education, Northern Ireland and by my Department. Some €3.3 million have been contributed by the Irish Exchequer to the programme since 1999. In recent years, my Department's contributions to this programme have averaged €200,000 per annum from the budget made available to support North-South...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been working with officials from Longford County Council under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a suitable permanent site for the school to which he refers. A preferred site option has been identified and negotiations with the landowner are progressing. Once the acquisition...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Fees (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The examination entry fee for repeat candidates has increased from €284 in 2011 to €301 in 2012, an increase of 6%. This is the same level of examination fee increase which has applied to the fees generally for Leaving Certificate candidates. Special examination entry fees for repeat candidates were introduced in 1987 on the basis that it is not unreasonable to expect those...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, my Department provides maintenance grants to undergraduate students pursuing approved third level courses, in the State or in other E.U. Member States, to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. Under the student grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: A review of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy 2011 - 2020 will be carried out in 2015 instead of 2016, when the mid-term review was originally scheduled. Officials in my Department are currently working on scoping the extent of that review.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Staff (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I include for the Deputy's information details of the staffing numbers requested. I would add that the recruitment of additional staff to NEPS is currently in train, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, and that engagement in currently in process with four candidates, from a recruitment panel formed for this purpose, with a view to their appointment to the service in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Court Recommendations (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Following lengthy discussions facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in August 2013 and February 2014, terms of reference were agreed for an internal job evaluation exercise to establish the correct rate of pay for the employees of all grades within the Tyndall National Institute. The terms of reference covered all staff in the Institute comprehended by the unions' parity claim,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On Thursday the 5th of February last I announced that seven new primary schools are to be established in the next two years to meet demographic demands. My announcement did not include a new primary school for the Dublin 13 area. My Department is currently carrying out a nationwide demographic exercise to determine where additional post-primary school places might be needed from 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The needs of the College will be considered in the context of budgetary resources and having regard to competing demands.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The two schools referred to by the Deputy and their Patron have been in on-going contact with my Department in respect of the proposed amalgamation. In relation to accommodation issues raised by the schools concerned to facilitate the proposed amalgamation, the scope of works constitutes a major capital project. As you will appreciate, in view of the financial constraints imposed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school referred to was approved funding on a devolved basis, earlier this month, for the provision of accommodation for an ASD Unit and a resource teaching room. The school in question subsequently reverted to my Department in relation to the schools interim temporary accommodation requirements pending the delivery of the new school extension. I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that a consortium led by Blackrock Education Centre with funding from my Department has developed a screening and diagnostic test to identify possible reading difficulties in young children. This test can assist in identifying children who have not reached the developmental levels of their peers across a range of areas. A working group has been established to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 to 400, inclusive, together. I welcome the publication of the ESRI report "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" which was commissioned by my Department. It consolidates the findings from the evaluations of DEIS that have taken place to date and I see it as the starting point for a new discussion on the future of the programme. I have commenced a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will arrange for the reply sought by the Deputy to be forwarded directly to him. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy may be aware, a building project for the school referred to, is currently being progressed within my Department's architectural planning process. Planning Permission has been granted by Donegal County Council and the project has been authorised to advance directly to Stage 2a Developed Design. I understand that the Design Team are currently working on updating site surveys...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Funding (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to details of funding to Donegal ETB, formerly known as Donegal VEC, in 2012 to 2015 is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile this information and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (28 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The needs of the College to which the Deputy refers will be considered in the context of budgetary resources and having regard to competing demands.