Results 7,521-7,540 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the conveyancing process for the site to which she refers is proceeding satisfactorily and my officials are working to ensure that the process is completed as soon as possible. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the relevant school authorities to inform them when the acquisition has been completed and in relation to the progression of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Value for Money Reviews (13 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The steering committee for the value for money review of small primary schools was chaired by Mr William Soffe. He was selected from the panel of nominated retired senior officials who had indicated they would be willing to act as chairpersons for individual reviews under the Value for Money and Policy Review intiative. The panel is operated by officials in the Department of Public and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that all schools were asked to apply to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for resource teaching support for the 2014/15 school year by 26 March 2014. The NCSE published details of all of their allocations for resource teaching support for the 2014/15 school year in June 2014. In order to meet any late demand for resource teaching support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Property Ownership (13 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As previously advised in a reply to the Deputy in March and November 2014, prior to the surrender of the lease which was in place and following discussions between officials of my Department and representatives of the owners of the property to which he refers, an agreement was reached in December 2013 to surrender the building to the owners of the property. This agreement provided that the...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Is the Senator against its having international students?

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: We have had a very good debate, and those who have participated include Senators Power, Barrett and Moloney. It has been a constructive debate. I will return and have given an undertaking to Senator Barrett in particular that I intend to bring forward amendments in the Dáil to in respect of some of the issues he raised. In respect of the specifics around the naming of any institution...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Fifth Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: To clarify, the provisions in the Bill may only be used by institutions that award to doctorate level under the Irish quality framework. There is no way that an institution which operates abroad and is not awarding at that level under the Irish system would be given the designation of university. The Bill contains a range of important measures, including provisions regarding support grants...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: On amendment No. 23, this provision is really just to clarify that the PLC schemes are now administered by SOLAS rather than by the Minister since its establishment. That is the purpose in using the same language, to ensure these students qualify for grants and that there is no doubt about it. As that is the purpose, I am not proposing to accept the amendment because it would involve the...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I indicated last time that I agree with the Senators that there should be as much transparency as possible and better communication between schools and parents. I generally support this principle but I do not think this amendment is appropriate. As Senator Reilly noted, we are working on the education (admission to schools) Bill and are close to publication. We are engaging with...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is not relevant to this Bill. The minor works grant was announced in November 2013 and we are still working on it.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: To clarify, I am fully in favour of the extensions the Government has made to the remit of the freedom of information Bill, but in this case, if one looks at section 7 of the Bill, it is just bringing it into line with the Education Act, 1998. It is only the information specified in that legislation, that is, academic information on results. It refers to the information specified that would...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senators for their very constructive interventions. To clarify again, at the bottom of page 8 of the Bill it is stated the specified data are those "which would enable the compilation of information" - it is specific information that would enable the compilation of league tables - "in relation to the comparative performance of [...] recognised schools [...] or [...] education or...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I move amendment No. 20: In page 9, lines 15 and 16, to delete “Freedom of Information Act 1997” and substitute “Freedom of Information Act 2014”.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The term "special interest" has been used in previous legislation. For example, the term is used in the qualifications legislation. I will look at the issue to see if we can do something about it in the Dáil. The problem in using the term "an international reputation" is that one could have a good, as well as a bad, international reputation. There are dangers in using the phrase. If...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank the Senators again for their very helpful contributions in these amendments. I will come to the latter ones in a couple of minutes. In terms of the term "marketing", the central purpose is education rather than marketing. The reason the universities want to use the title is so they can identify to students outside of Ireland the high standard that they reach in terms of the degrees...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: We would not encourage that.

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The amendments that I will be tabling in the Dáil arise from the debate in the Seanad. I therefore hope I have benefitted from the expertise of Members of this House. I have the greatest of respect for the Seanad and, as Senator Quinn said, I served here for five years. The expertise here will certainly feed into the amendments I will bring to the Dáil. The Bill will come back...

Seanad: Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014: Report Stage (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank all Senators for their contributions. I acknowledge and thank them for the constructive debate we had on Committee Stage. I will give some explanation as to why I did not table amendments on Report Stage. I had not at any stage indicated that I would table an amendment on this issue. I will table amendments on protecting the names of Irish universities, and perhaps others, but we...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy may be aware that I signed a Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and the County and City Managers' Association (CCMA) in 2012. This Memorandum of Understanding fosters increased levels of cooperation and formalises the Local Authorities' part in identifying and securing sites for educational use. In that context officials from my Department have been working closely...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (12 Nov 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The student referred to by the Deputy appealed the decision of the awarding authority and the SUSI appeals officer to the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The student's appeal was considered by the Appeals Board on 4th November 2014 and a letter has issued to the student outlining their decision.