Results 6,381-6,400 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware the Exchequer funds tuition fees costs in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study under my Department's Free Fees Initiative. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As SOLAS have statutory responsibility for the operation of the Apprenticeship Programme I have asked them to contact the deputy directly in relation to the question he has raised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: 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. That increase has provided funding for 1,700 additional teachers and SNAs to be recruited for our schools, as well as funding important reforms. However, it was not possible to secure the funding which would be required to also increase...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that, while there is not presently a distinct disability category of Asperger's Syndrome for resource allocation purposes, such children are generally supported through the resourcing mechanisms which are in place for supporting children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As such, the specific information requested by the Deputy is not available. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for major capital funding that includes for the upgrading of existing classrooms and ancillary accommodation. As the Deputy will appreciate, due to the competing demands on my Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the funding available for the provision of essential school classroom accommodation, it...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, in order to ensure that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers within their own community. My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have made enquiries about the special needs playschool referred to by the Deputy and I understand that it was wholly funded by the HSE. My Department had no role in the funding of or closure of the playschool and I suggest that the Deputy contacts the Department of Health concerning this closure.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Redeployment (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the school to which the Deputy refers is not due to commence operation until September 2016, start-up accommodation for it has not yet been secured. Subject to the availability of appropriate start-up accommodation, it is intended to locate the school within the feeder area it is being set up to serve. The details supplied by the Deputy suggest that patronage for the school has already...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The major building project for Howth Road National School is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b. Stage 2b includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Safety Certificate, Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of tender documents. Stage 2b was received in the department and reviewed by the Departments Technical Division. A letter was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Student Grants Appeals Board (Appeals Board) is independent in the performance of its functions. The appeal of the student referred to by the Deputy was considered by the Appeals Board on 3rd February 2015 and the Appeals Board wrote to the student requesting further information to assist it in making a decision on the student's appeal. The file has been received from Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The nationwide demographic review at post-primary level is an extensive exercise which is on-going in my Department. It will be completed as quickly as possible.

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Referral to Select Committee (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select sub-Committee on Education and Skills pursuant to Standing Order 82A(3)(a) and (6)(a) and 126(1) of the Standing Orders relative to Public Business.

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all of the Deputies who contributed to the debate, in particular, the Opposition spokespersons for their support for the legislation. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien thanked the Oireachtas Library and Research Service for the very good summary of the Bill it had provided. I, too, thank the service for its work on the Bill. We do not always acknowledge its work in assisting our discussions...

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Order for Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to address the House on the Second Stage of the Teaching Council (Amendment) Bill 2015. I will provide a detailed explanation of the provisions of the Bill but first I want to highlight the background and main aims of this legislation. The Bill has two main aims. First, it will underpin the central...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 2A of Architectural Planning. The Patron Body and their Design Team are finalising the Stage 2A report for presentation to my Department. Upon completion of this presentation and submission of the report, subject to no issues arising, this project will be authorised to proceed to Stage 2B - Detailed Design Stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: Budget 2015 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 prioritised reforms, such as implementation of the literacy and numeracy strategy, reform of junior cycle, and the introduction of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of special needs assistants employed in schools on a county basis is not readily available. The number of Special Needs Assistants employed nationally from 2011 to 2014 is available in the attached document. The details for each year are the December figures for the year in question. The primary schools information is inclusive of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (18 Feb 2015)

Jan O'Sullivan: An application in relation to the proposed amalgamation of schools referred to by the Deputy has recently being received by my Department. This proposal is currently under consideration. Officials from my Department have been in contact with the Patron's Office and the Management Authority of the schools concerned to request further information in respect of the proposal. Once this...