Results 5,621-5,640 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been working with officials from Cork 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 preferred site option has been identified and is being progressed. However given the commercial sensitivities associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials in my Department have been working with officials from Cork 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 preferred site option has been identified and is being progressed. However given the commercial sensitivities associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Integrating ICT into teaching and learning in schools remains a priority for this Government. The Department's ICT in Schools programme sets out a clear agenda to be pursued in this regard, focusing on four main projects: ICT Infrastructure in schools, the Schools Broadband Programme, the development of teacher skills, and the provision of curriculum-relevant digital content. A new digital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (21 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: Institutes of Technology Funding (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Details of the recurrent funding allocated to Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) for the years requested is set out in the following table. 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 in higher education institutions such as WIT. An Expert...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Detail on the recurrent funding allocated in 2014 by the Higher Education Authority to the higher education institutions under its designation is set out the following table. Institute Amount University College Dublin €113,821,041 University College Cork €88,375,106 National University of Ireland, Galway €75,107,132 National University of Ireland, Maynooth...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: At primary level, funding towards schools' running costs is provided by my Department's scheme of capitation grants. These grants are intended to contribute towards the general operating costs of primary schools. Minimums and maximums apply to these grants which reflect the estimated minimum running costs of small schools and the economies of scale that may be achieved in larger schools. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: When the moratorium on the filling of posts of responsibility was introduced in 2009, the Government exempted Principal and Deputy Principal posts in all primary and post-primary schools. These posts continue to be replaced in the normal manner. The impact of the moratorium was therefore limited to the Assistant Principal and Special Duties posts of responsibility. The alleviation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Inspectorate of the Department of Education and Skills has statutory responsibility under Section 13 of the Education Act 1998 for the inspection of schools, including special schools and I have no plans to introduce an additional statutory body to inspect special schools and units. A small number of special schools operate in tandem with facilities where residential care is provided for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy, is currently completing the advanced stage of Architectural Planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of Tender Documents. All relevant statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Courses Provision (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Entrepreneurial skills are vital to Ireland's economic recovery and enhance the student's employability: be it starting their own business; working for a large corporation or contributing to society as a social entrepreneur. The HEA has published the first System Performance Report on how higher education performance will align with the broader national objectives of the Higher Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The recently published ESRI report on "Learning from the Evaluation of DEIS" which was commissioned by my Department, draws together the learning to date from the implementation of DEIS and identifies some of the challenges for future policy in this area. I see this Report as a starting point for a new discussion on the future of DEIS. To this end, I have commenced a consultation process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that my Department has not received any correspondence from the school referred to by the Deputy regarding its long term viability. I recognise that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities and will continue to be so. It is for that reason that I recently announced that a voluntary protocol for amalgamation is being developed for the very...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is, since March 2006, the regulator and standards body for the teaching profession. Accordingly, it holds authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in the State. As the question refers to an operational matter for the Teaching Council, I am referring it to the Council for direct reply.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The chief executive is accountable to the Board for the efficient and effective management of Caranua. While I have no statutory role in relation to Caranua's applications procedures, my officials and I are in regular contact with the Chair and the chief executive to discuss...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I intend to consider the question of a review of the arrangements relating to eligibility for assistance from Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, later this year by which time a clearer picture should have emerged regarding the uptake of the funding available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine its criteria for making decisions in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012 Act and I have no role in that process. Any former resident who is dissatisfied with a decision made by Caranua on their application can appeal that decision to the independent appeals officer in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Decisions of Caranua may be appealed to the independent Appeals Officer appointed under section 21 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act, 2012. A person who is affected by the Appeals Officer's decision may appeal to the High Court on a point of law. The Appeals Officer has determined 45 decisions to date and I expect to receive his first report in relation to the performance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Scientific Research (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 605 and 606 together. The Strategy for Science, Technology & Innovation 2006 to 2013 (SSTI) was a broad based strategy which covered funding for research and innovation across all disciplines and across the full continuum of research from basic to applied, as well as commercialisation of research. The Government remains committed to the further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (21 Apr 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. As part of its remit the SEC is required to maintain standards year on year and this it endeavours to achieve by the processes it has in place for the preparation of examination papers and other test items, and by the quality assurance procedures it implements at...