Results 7,301-7,320 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I appreciate that quality internet connectivity is essential for good teaching and learning using ICT. While great progress has been made at post-primary level, where every school will shortly have a high-speed connection, I am aware that improvement at primary level is slower and is dependent upon market and technological developments. Under the schools broadband access programme, my...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: To give some technical information, the Department is in the process of migrating around 200 schools to next-generation access services that provide minimum download speeds of at least 30 Mbps and up to 100 Mbps, depending on school locations. Speeds are slower in other schools and I acknowledge this. As I said, the strategy will be published shortly. I have seen wonderful things in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Minor Works Scheme Restoration (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to state categorically that because this grant is being paid, no element of the schools buildings programme will be stalled in any way. I am glad the Deputy welcomes the grant being paid because the schools have certainly welcomed it. It will be useful in all the schools. As the Deputy knows, the five-year schools buildings programme finishes next year and we are now working on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Private Members' Down's Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill 2013 has passed Second Stage in the Dáil and has been referred to the Committee on Education and Social Protection. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education has recommended that a new model for allocating resource teachers to schools be put in place, which proposes that pupils, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I acknowledge that Deputy McGrath has campaigned for a long time for, and has taken a particular interest in, children with special educational needs, including those with Down's syndrome. As he indicated, I was able to announce extra resource teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, in the recent budget. They will be provided for schools during the coming year. The NCSE has presented...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I fully agree with Deputy McGrath about schools being inclusive. The admissions to schools Bill, which we will be publishing soon, will involve having a statement from schools saying they welcome children on the grounds of ability or disability. It is important that no barriers should be put in place.

Other Questions: School Curriculum (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department, in conjunction with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, has initiated a major reform of the primary curriculum. This reform will examine the entire curriculum, including its structure and content, to identify areas where revisions or updates are required. One of the aims of this reform is to ensure that the primary curriculum is appropriately structured to...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The current curriculum dates back to 1999, so it is time to review it. However, excellent work is going on in primary schools. I have had an opportunity to visit a number of them in recent days and I saw the great dedication of primary school teachers there. I was in a school in Swords in north County Dublin the other day which was receiving a digital schools of distinction award. I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Although a written exam after three years can assess certain things, which we value, it cannot assess everything. The Deputy referred to the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition. A written exam at the end of three years does not assess the kind of work we see at it. I am sure everybody here will have visited it and seen what these fantastic students are doing. They work together in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Although I am not supposed to mention people who are not here, I will respond to Fintan O’Toole as well as the Deputy. Do we really so much mistrust the parents and teachers of Ireland that we believe this will happen?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: If parents behaved like this, one would not be able to pick an underage team in any sport in the whole country. Let us not bring it down to that level. I trust the teachers and the parents. It will be good for the students. The students trust the teachers. Their association has said they want assessment by their own teachers. I ask that people look at this fairly, for all the students,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Many young people do not get the full benefit from the education system because we have not moved forward in this area. Again, I ask people to consider what is on offer and I urge that the strike does not go ahead.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Minor Works Scheme Restoration (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I announced the 2014-2015 minor works grant on 25 November. The grant, amounting to €28 million in total, will issue over the coming weeks to all primary schools with permanent recognition. Funding under the grant will continue at existing levels with schools receiving a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Minor Works Scheme Restoration (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: November has been generally the time the minor works grant has been announced, in the past two years when there was one. There was no minor works grant in 2012-2013. The grant is issued by the building unit, and is not in the annual calendar of grants circulated by the central funds section. The money is found in the building unit. With a very large capital programme, money that one...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am afraid my initial answer is somewhat similar. Since September I have been engaging with the teacher unions in respect of the reform of the junior cycle. I have met the union leaders many times, as have my officials. Dr. Pauric Travers has chaired the meetings. We met trade union representatives over three days to negotiate the reform. I tabled a compromise proposal on 10 November...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Several schools are already implementing a school-based assessment with class teachers involved. Deputy O'Brien will be aware that at least one of these schools is in his constituency. This is part of the proposal because it represents a genuine engagement in learning between the teachers and their students as well as the other teachers in the school. The idea is that there is feedback and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Certainly, we have evidence and I am absolutely willing to give Deputy O'Brien whatever we have in that regard. We have a considerable amount of evidence. It is important to note that these proposals of assessment within the school, involving school classroom teachers with their students, is supported by the Irish Second-Level Students Union, parents councils and management bodies, etc....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Let me be absolutely clear: the integrity of the existing junior certificate will be maintained and improved by my proposals. It is essential that students are marked by their teachers to promote better student learning and improved student outcomes. School-based assessment empowers teachers to support the unique talents and skills of the students in their classrooms. It allows for a far...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Educational Reform (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have met with the teacher unions five times since my appointment as Minister. Three of these meetings were solely to deal with issues relating to implementation of reforms to the junior cycle. I agreed to Dr. Pauric Travers chairing negotiations between the Department and the unions, and I also agreed to both the timeframe and terms of reference for those talks which were proposed by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Educational Reform (27 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Deputy. I have listened to the concerns I have heard since I became Minister. I have had a number of meetings with all the interests involved. That is the reason I put the proposal on the table. One could say I have moved 60% from the position originally balloted on. Significantly, and the Deputy referred to it, the certificate will now be a State certificate, fully certified...