Results 6,121-6,140 of 6,491 for speaker:Carol Nolan

Priority Questions: National Educational Psychological Service (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: 20. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to enhance the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, specifically the capacity to increase the level of assessments undertaken. [28420/16]

Priority Questions: National Educational Psychological Service (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: I wish to raise the issue of plans to enhance the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, but, of more importance, the capacity to increase the level of assessments by that service of children and, in particular, of children with special needs.

Priority Questions: National Educational Psychological Service (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: I thank the Minister for his response. However, I am aware of many frustrated principals, teachers and parents nationwide. While there has been an increase in the number of NEPS psychologists, there has not been an increase in the number of assessments. For example, the number of assessments has declined since 2008, from a total of 10,585 assessments to 9,824. This represents an average...

Priority Questions: National Educational Psychological Service (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: I appreciate the new resource allocation model will assist in addressing some of the issues I have outlined. Will the Minister indicate a timeframe for its implementation? A budget will be announced within the next two weeks and a new school term has started in which children are faced with lengthy waits for early intervention. The assessments are essential to secure resources at second...

Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: 18. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to restore guidance counselling services in secondary schools. [28421/16]

Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: There is a commitment in the programme for Government to restore guidance counsellors to secondary schools. That is an invaluable service. Will the Minister outline the plans to restore that service, but also the timeframe?

Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: I thank the Minister for that response. As he is aware, guidance counsellors provide an invaluable service in schools, both in terms of the well-being of students and personal one-to-one counselling. Guidance counsellors have seen cuts of up to 53% since 2012. One-to-one counselling has also been cut by 27%. We need to restore that, but it must be ex quota. I have heard many teachers say...

Priority Questions: School Guidance Counsellors (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: I am particularly concerned about the lack of clarity on ex quotaallocations. The Education Act states that students should have appropriate access to career guidance. We need to prioritise this issue and get it right.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: 55. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to create more equal access to third-level education. [28335/16]

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government: Water Charges Exemptions (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: 219. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if nursing homes are currently exempt from water charges; if not, if he will consider requesting such an exemption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28494/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: 453. To ask the Minister for Health the measures his Department has taken to retain nursing staff and reduce the annual spend on agency staff within the health sector; if he has specifically considered any measures to reduce early retirement, in particular, among nursing staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28493/16]

Written Answers — Department of Health: HSE Staff (4 Oct 2016)

Carol Nolan: 454. To ask the Minister for Health if his Department has considered any measures to incentivise nurses and health care staff to work public holidays; if the terms of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 has had any adverse impact on the availability of staff for public holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28495/16]

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: The Department sanctioned 860 new SNA posts in June. Have these SNAs been recruited? Has the €7 milllion in expenditure been accounted for in 2016? Will there be an impact on the allocation in budget 2017? What is the target for SNA numbers in 2017 and what will be the costs associated with providing these SNAs? I was heavily involved on the boards of management of two secondary...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 26 – Department of Education and Skills (29 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: I want the Minister to outline some of his plans for third level funding. The sector is in absolute chaos, as we know. This was reiterated by many today. It is a matter we really need to think about, and we cannot afford to wait. We certainly cannot wait until we decide what option to choose, be it State funding, loans or otherwise. I sincerely hope the loan option is not chosen. We...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (28 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Taoiseach faoin Bhille um fhoréigean baile. The enactment of the Domestic Violence Bill is an important step in the Government's long overdue ratification of the Istanbul Convention and the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence. In July, after a long delay, the Minister for Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (27 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: 287. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide clear guidelines and documentation requirements to SUSI for those currently in direct provision applying for third level grants in order to prove their residency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27244/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: 289. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that have applied for school transport in 2016 and were deemed ineligible as they were not attending their nearest school; the number of pupils that applied for school transport on a concessionary basis and were refused; the number of these that were in receipt of school transport in previous years; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: 303. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children who were refused school transport as a result of late submission of application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27302/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: 290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; if there are any arrangements that could be made to provide the person with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27289/16]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (27 Sep 2016)

Carol Nolan: 291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused school transport; if he will include this case in the review of the school transport scheme; if there are any arrangements that could be made to provide the person with school transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/16]