Results 7,821-7,840 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (16 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the schools in question submitted major capital applications for extension/refurbishment to my Department. My Department has been liaising with the school authorities regarding the schools long term projected enrolments (LTPE) and a revised LTPE for each school has recently been agreed. The Schedules of Accommodation have also recently been finalised. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (16 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Teaching Council Act, 2001, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory regulatory authority to review and accredit initial teacher education programmes. As such it is the Council, not the Minister, that sets out the programme criteria. Changes to the structure and content of the Gaeltacht Placement arose from the Teaching Council's new accreditation criteria, published in...

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: We will be looking at the minor works scheme in November.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is €5,500 plus a certain amount per child.

Financial Resolutions 2015 - Financial Resolution No. 3: General (Resumed) (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is an honour to speak on the budget for the Department of Education and Skills for 2015. I believe my current role - this also holds true for whoever holds the post after me - is one of the most important portfolios in Government. The actions taken in education leave an indelible mark on society for generations. Education will play a vital role in the growing economic recovery that is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Restoration (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Circular Letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant for the school year 2013/2014 issued last November states "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The focus under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 is on meeting the demand for additional school places. Consequently, there is no funding provided at this time in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: At primary level the staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. The primary staffing schedule currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils, with lower...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Officials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy has recently submitted an appeal to the Appeals Officer in SUSI and he will be advised directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. Reforms introduced in the 2012/13 school year created a single simplified allocation process to cover both learning and language support. At primary level, GAM/EAL (learning/language support) hours are allocated on the basis of mainstream classroom teaching posts in the school....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that class teachers in schools are required to be fully-qualified with a qualification relevant to the sector in which they are teaching. It has been the policy of my Department for some time that only qualified and registered teachers should be employed by schools. This is set out most recently in Circular Letters 31/2011 and 0025/2013. Current recruitment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme, as set out in Circular 0048/2014, is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children with special educational needs seeking an educational placement. Provision is also made for early...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that there has not been a reduction in SNA support for schools. This year, provision is being made for up to 10,965 SNAs, of whom over 10,900 SNAs have initially been allocated to schools in September. This is an increase of 390 posts on the previous cap of 10,575 posts. This is the highest level of SNA allocation that we have ever had. The policy of the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Reading Recovery is a licensed programme which has been made available to primary schools through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). The following is a breakdown by county of the schools participating in the programme up to the end of the 2013/2014 school year. Schools by county participating in the Reading Recovery Programme up to end of 2013/2014 school year County...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 107 and 108 together. Reading Recovery is a licensed programme which has been made available to primary schools through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). The cost of providing support in the 2013/2014 school year was €240,000. This is in addition to salary costs for six dedicated personnel supporting Reading Recovery in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Maths Recovery is a licensed programme which has been made available to over 300 primary schools through the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST). PDST is currently liaising with the programme providers to ensure continued and adequate support for DEIS schools to access the Maths Recovery programme. On the basis of the average programme costs since 2010 it is expected that the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the General Allocation Model currently allocates over 4,200 Learning Support/Resource Teachers to primary schools, and is now updated annually, based on the number of mainstream teaching posts in schools in the previous school year, reflecting any growth in school size. Over 750 teaching posts are also allocated to post primary schools to provide for learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Remuneration (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Performance related pay has not been paid to any staff member of my Department in the years referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18 June 2014. The NCSE, consulted widely with education partners, representatives of the disability sector, stakeholders and parent representative groups, during the course of the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 112 together. It is understood that the Deputy's questions relate to break in studies period of three years of the "re-entry" provision of the Student Grant Scheme 2014, S.I. No. 201 of 2014. The re-entry provision allows a mature student, entering an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, having previously attended an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (15 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.