Results 6,201-6,220 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Other Questions: Education Standards (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: No matter how often the Deputy repeats that mantra, we have had extra teachers and SNAs-----

Other Questions: Education Standards (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: -----and for the first time, we have seen progress in terms of international measures, in mathematics and English in particular. We have reached targets now that we were not supposed to reach until 2020. We have also been improving in terms of retention figures in schools, the number of young people who stay on until the leaving certificate. It is all very well to keep repeating these...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On the question of money, in the last budget, for example, there was a considerable increase in the number of resource teachers and special needs assistants. That has been the case for a number of years and I am sure it will be the case again next year. As the Deputy knows, the National Council for Special Education has put forward a proposed new model of allocation of resources. We...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am glad the Deputy acknowledged we brought the numbers back up. When explaining that we would not introduce the new model this year, I announced that we would have a sort of one-stop-shop in regard to these kinds of supports. Therefore, the NEPS, the National Council for Special Education and other supports available will all be in the one area and people will not have to move around...

Other Questions: Schools Inspections (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: They are not stopped from suggesting there might be physical infrastructure problems but it is not a core part of their function to examine the physical infrastructure. A lot of the money that was in the last five-year plan was allocated to address demographic factors and therefore to schools for children in areas of growing population. I understand we will have more funding in the next...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: At present, all schools are encouraged to use education plans. The departmental inspectorate's advice is that the majority of schools are now using some form of individual education planning for children with special needs. In line with circular 30 of 2014, schools are required to put in place a personal pupil plan including a care plan for all pupils availing of SNA support. In light...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: On the preschool year again, there is a cross-departmental group established by the Minister, Deputy Reilly, who has responsibility for the funding of the free preschool year. My responsibility is for the educational content of the early years and I have a number of measures in that regard, which I outlined in answer to an earlier question. There are no special needs assistants in preschool....

Other Questions: Schools Inspections (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am conscious that the physical environments of the classroom and the school play an important role in ensuring good quality teaching and learning can take place in schools. That is why my Department is investing in building new schools and improving existing buildings. Almost €2 billion in funding is being invested under our five-year capital plan. Almost 320 major school and...

Other Questions: Schools Inspections (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The main issue the Deputy has raised is the physical structure of the school buildings. A new five-year capital programme will be announced in the middle of this year. In advance of that, I will be considering the condition of school buildings around the country. I want to secure the most funding I can for this capital programme. Despite the economic difficulties, the Deputy will...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As this information will be used in the 2016-17 academic year, we have a period of time in which to address these issues. I questioned the reason the information requested under FOI was not given and I understand it was because it is normal, when deliberations are ongoing, that FOI requests are not granted. In other words, this matter still is under discussion, is not a final and set...

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: To answer the Deputy directly, the Department is consulting with the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner and once this evaluation is complete, the Department will issue an updated circular on the POD. One issue is the one I already have stated publicly I would reconsider, namely, the length of time the data are held. It is one of the issues under consideration.

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The first point to make is that we will not force any small school to close. Second, one of the reasons for the cutbacks across all Departments in recent years was the damage caused by the Deputy's party to the economy before we took office. All Departments had to cut expenditure and my Department was no exception. We have since restored some of the grants to which the Deputy referred....

Other Questions: Data Protection (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Department has received a number of comments on and queries about certain aspects of the primary online database, POD, including the retention period for POD data and other data protection concerns. The Department is taking this feedback very seriously and considering the submissions received from parents and other stakeholders. The Department is consulting the Data Protection...

Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: With regard to this year's exams I welcome the fact that the unions have not set any further dates for strike action but they have not suspended their industrial action and therefore, we cannot be certain. However, it is my strong hope they will not proceed with any further action and that there will be no disruption this year. The unions will recognise that we are very close to the exams...

Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: My door is open whenever the teacher unions want to reconsider Dr. Travers's proposals. I will be happy to engage with them but, as of now, I have an obligation to proceed with the reforms.

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I consider that the report of the value-for-money review of small primary schools provides a solid research basis for future discussions regarding small schools. It outlines the number, type and location of small schools and this information is very useful in considering any reorganisation proposals . In many parts of our country, small schools play a central part in local communities,...

Other Questions: Value for Money Reviews (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: There is a difference between isolated small schools and small schools in general. This is the reason we have made a particular provision for small schools that are more than 8 km from another school. I note the importance of this provision for the communities in question. With regard to other small schools, the approach taken in the report is dictatorial, with a requirement that they...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: We can look at what that would cost. One of the factors is that there is an increase every year in the numbers of resource teachers and SNAs on foot of demographic changes. If one was to adopt an approach where one would hold what one had, there might be an impact if the pattern were to change and a number of children with particular needs were to enter during the school year. Even if it...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: It would be based on assessed needs depending on the type of school it was. The matter becomes quite complex when one starts to look at the effect on individual schools. This illustrates one of the reasons we were not ready to bring it forward this year. We must ensure we are fair to all children. This is obviously a very sensitive issue in terms of each child's needs, no matter what...

Other Questions: Industrial Disputes (3 Mar 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The full text of Dr. Travers's proposal document is available on my Department's website. Both sides were asked to confirm whether they accepted or rejected it as a basis for agreement. While the proposal put forward by Dr. Travers requires significant further compromise on my part, I have indicated to him that I am prepared to accept it as a basis for agreement. In doing so I acknowledged...