Results 7,961-7,980 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I share the Deputy's concern that we should reduce class size as soon as we can. However, we are still in a tight budgetary situation. In terms of the education budget, even if we receive the same amount as last year, we will need more because of the increased pupil numbers. This must be our priority. We must have teachers for the extra children. One of the issues in regard to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: This is my first time taking Priority Questions in the House as Minister for Education and Skills. I thank the Opposition spokespersons for their questions and I look forward to working with them in a constructive way. My Department publishes statistics annually including information on school size. In the last school year there were 29 one-teacher schools and 11 in each of the previous...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The last element of the budgetary measures that were taken came into effect this September. The process took place over a number of years and is completed. All decisions are made on the basis of ensuring schools are sustainable, and that is the basis of the decisions made with regard to numbers. Some one-teacher schools are newly established and did not grow as quickly in their initial...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am very much aware that the value for money report was with my predecessor and is now with me. I have engaged in reading the report. My Department is also engaged in discussions with the Catholic Primary School Managers Association and the Irish National Teachers Organisation on the proposals and on the general issue of smaller schools, not just one-teacher schools but also two, three and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Staffing (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I intend to publish the report when those discussions have been completed. I intend to address the issue in that context.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Teacher Recruitment (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I indicated that I would engage with my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Joan Burton, to make sure the principles of the JobBridge scheme were maintained and that there was no abuse of the scheme. I can confirm that I have spoken to her about this matter. We have had quite detailed discussions on the issue. We also discussed the potential for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Government's focus in recent years has been on operating a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. I am conscious that the budget measures have impacted on all schools large and small, across all patronage types and whether or not they were precluded from charging fees or could charge them. The measures had a focus in particular in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for capital funding for an extension. My Department is currently reviewing the accommodation brief for the school in question and in that regard will be in contact with the school authorities in the near future. It is anticipated that when the accommodation brief is finalised, the project concerned will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Restoration (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: At the publication in November 2011 of the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework the emphasis in the education sector was focused on major school projects and smaller projects devolved to schools to meet demographic demands. Given the requirement to meet the need for additional school places over the years 2012 to 2016, it was deemed unlikely that Minor...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The DEIS programme is the subject of ongoing evaluation by both the Educational Research Centre and my Department's Inspectorate who have produced a series of evaluation reports to date, copies of which are available on my Department's website. This research was also the subject of a recent research seminar entitled "Learning from DEIS" at which my predecessor Minister Ruairi Quinn...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Action Plan on Bullying (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: When the new anti-bullying procedures for schools were published, it was acknowledged that schools would need time to develop an anti-bullying policy in line with the new procedures. Accordingly the accompanying circular allowed schools a period up to last Easter to make the necessary arrangements, including consultations with the school community. All schools should by now have completed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have already stated publicly that because of increasing demographics my Department requires additional resources to simply maintain existing levels of service. Between this year and last year this has involved an increase of around 2,300 teachers. In my pre-budget discussions with the education partners I expressed the hope that continued improvement in the economy will take us to a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Private Schools (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am conscious that the budget measures in recent years have impacted on all schools large and small, across all patronage types and whether or not they were precluded from charging fees or could charge them. The measures had a focus in particular in protecting as far as possible DEIS schools. I am not in a position to engage with the Deputy on what may or may not be in next week's budget...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that it is my Department's intention to provide improved accommodation for the school to which he refers. It is intended that the school will be accommodated in a former school building currently occupied by a special school pending the construction of a new school for the special school. The building project for the special school is included in my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Council for Special Education published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18 June 2014. The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed, based on a schools educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion. My Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am not in a position to engage with the Deputy on what may or may not be in next week's budget announcements. However I have already stated publicly that because of increasing demographics my Department requires additional resources to simply maintain existing levels of service. I do not believe it will be possible in this budget to begin any reversal of the measures that were taken...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, voluntary contributions by parents are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a contribution, they are doing so of their own volition. Decisions in relation to such contributions are dealt with at local school level. My Department does not require schools to report to it on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I have already stated publicly that because of increasing demographics my Department requires additional resources to simply maintain existing levels of service. Between this year and last year this has involved an increase of around 2,300 teachers in our primary and post-primary schools. This is a very significant investment at a time of scarce resources. There is no funding available for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy may be aware that a new organisational design for ETBs is being devised in order to reflect their roles. To progress this, a consultative team has been established with representatives from my Department, the ETBs and SOLAS. In January 2014, pending the conclusion of this process, my Department gave approval to 9 ETBs, which did not have an Education Officer, to appoint a temporary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The junior cycle reforms aim to bring about improved outcomes for students through, a more meaningful assessment of student ability. I have confidence in the professionalism and integrity of Irish teachers. I want to work with teacher unions to bring this about in a way that is meaningful and appropriate in an Irish context. Some 90% of junior cycle students go on to senior cycle. The...