Results 5,581-5,600 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The first National Employers Survey which was undertaken in 2012, by the HEA and IBEC showed that 75% of employers expressed confidence that graduates have the right workplace and transferable skills and the relevant knowledge in their subject and discipline. The second round of this survey was carried out in 2014 as a joint action by the HEA, QQI and SOLAS, results of the survey will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Job Bridge is a national internship scheme administered by the Department of Social Protection. The scheme was introduced to provide a pathway to appropriate employment, training and education opportunities for a specific cohort of jobseekers on the Live Register. Changes to the scheme are therefore a matter for the Department of Social Protection in the first instance. Recognised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Meals Programme (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The School Meals programme is administered by the Department of Social Protection and schools must apply to that Department for inclusion in the programme. Some DEIS schools have not applied for inclusion in the programme. That is a matter for individual schools themselves to decide. However, I understand that 97% of DEIS Band 1 schools - which are those experiencing the highest levels of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's policy is to promote a child-centred approach to the education of children with special needs, including children with Autism. Provision is made for mainstream, special class, and special school placements, to ensure all children can avail of education. My Department provides support to schools through the National Educational Psychological Service, Inspectorate, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 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 2(a) Developed Design. I understand that the Design Team are currently working on updating site surveys...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Child Care Education (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Early Childhood Care and Education scheme is funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Issues relating to the operation or potential extension of the scheme are therefore a matter in the first instance, for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. My Department is represented on the interdepartmental working group on Future Investment in Early Years and School Age...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: There are a variety of factors which impact on the number of student grant awards in any academic year which include but are not limited to, the number of applications, numbers transitioning from second level to third level, financial circumstances of individuals & their parents and increases in third level participation generally. With the establishment of SUSI as a single awarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Expenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs will amount to over €1.37bn in 2015, which is equivalent to approximately 15% of the overall allocation for education and training. As part of Budget 2015, an additional 365 Special Needs Assistant posts is being provided in 2015, as well as an additional 480 Resource Teachers, taking into account increased demand and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My focus in Budget 2015 was on obtaining the additional funding that was necessary to provide for demographic growth. The last Budget included an increase in spending on education for the first time in recent years, amounting to additional funding of €60m during 2015. This funding will be used to provide 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs for our schools, as well as to fund...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Applications (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school to which she refers has applied to my Department for improved accommodation. This application is currently being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed. With regard to the health and safety concerns expressed, the school received a Minor Works grant of €10,846 last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, Cork, is under the aegis of Cork Education and Training Board (ETB), formerly under the aegis of City of Cork VEC. Financial allocations are made to ETBs as part of a block grant. ETBs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of funding and each ETB is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a devolved grant has been approved in principle for works required to facilitate the amalgamation of the schools in question. I understand that correspondence in this regard issued to the schools concerned in recent days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: In accordance with the Education Act 1998, schools are managed by Boards of Management on behalf of the relevant school patrons. Under the provisions of the Act, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school and it is the Board of Management that employs the teachers and other staff at the school. Under section 16 of the 1998 Act where the patron is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current sick leave scheme 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 Department Circular 0059/2014 Sick Leave Scheme for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools. Department Circular 40/97, Assaults on Teachers/School Employees,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Expenditure incurred on new school buildings over the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 in the post-primary sector amounted to almost €229m. This expenditure was incurred in the post-primary sector as follows: Education and Training Board Schools - €154.236 million Secondary Schools - €44.982 million Community and Comprehensive Schools - €29.771 million.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Expenditure incurred on large scale extension and refurbishment projects over the period 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2014 in the post-primary sector amounted to just over €214.4m broken down as follows: Education and Training Board Schools - €69.278 million Secondary Schools - €131.810 million Community and Comprehensive Schools - €13.302 million. The number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Expenditure (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: A Summer Works Scheme operated in 2010, 2011 (includes projects announced under the Jobs Initiative) and 2014. Approvals under these schemes issued to 851 post-primary schools with a total of €118m spent at 31st December 2014. The distribution of this funding per sector is as follows: Education and Training Board Schools - €40.630 million Secondary Schools - €60.288...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that the property referred to by the Deputy is in the ownership of the Minister for Education and Skills. It is intended that the property will be used for educational purposes and it is therefore not available for alternative use.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in primary schools, additional teaching supports for pupils with special education needs are provided through two channels. Under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, schools are resourced to cater for pupils whose educational psychological assessment places them in the high incidence, or less complex, disability category....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (22 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have accepted Paraic Travers' revised and clarified proposal of 23 February as the basis for agreement on the implementation of Junior Cycle reform. It addresses, I believe, concerns on the union side while retaining many of the important benefits for learners. I have a mandate to act responsibly on behalf of our junior cycle students, their parents and our wider society. That is why I...