Results 8,001-8,020 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My main priority for any additional resources for the foreseeable future will be to cater for the continuing increase in demographics at all levels in the education system. We have a growing population of young people in this country and despite the difficult financial circumstances we face as a country, we prioritised education so that the number of teachers we have in the system has also...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Since I have come into office I have met with parents, teacher and school management representatives and discussed Junior Cycle reform with all these groups. At my invitation, the teacher unions have outlined to me their concerns in relation to aspects of the proposed reforms. In doing so, the unions underlined teacher support for the reforms that will lead to better quality teaching and...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy will be aware that there is a wide ranging programme of reform underway across the education and training sector and one of the key aims is to ensure the continued development of skills appropriate to enterprise, particularly through the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, reform of the Junior Cycle, the establishment of the local Education and Training...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: As the deputy is aware, the new Junior Cycle programme is currently being introduced to schools on a phased basis. As part of this change key skills are being built into every subject. These include skills such as communicating, working with other and managing information and thinking. Over the course of the three year Junior Cycle, every student should have the opportunity to "take...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: There is no requirement on schools to report bullying incidents to my Department. The School Principal under the anti-bullying procedures for all schools is required to report regularly to the Board of Management on the overall number of bullying cases and provide confirmation that these are being dealt with in accordance with the procedures. The Board is required to undertake an annual...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: An Enterprise Engagement Forum, chaired by the Secretary General of the Department of Education and Skills, provides a regular opportunity for the major organisations representing enterprise and employers in Ireland to input to and discuss interests and concerns relevant to education and training policy and provision. The agenda for meetings are agreed with employer representatives and span...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 180 together. The Five Year Construction Plan that was announced in March 2012 as part of the Department's €2 billion capital investment programme, outlines the major school projects that are scheduled to commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of meeting significant demographic needs. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (8 Oct 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. The bulk of teaching posts in schools are allocated on a permanent basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies continue to be filled in accordance with published Department criteria. The Government has prioritised, as best as possible, the filling of front-line posts in the Education sector within...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: Despite the ongoing requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas, expenditure in 2013 supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs was some €1.3bn or approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. Provision includes over 11,000 learning support/resource teacher posts, including those provided under the General Allocation model, in mainstream primary...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available. All State funded primary and post primary schools have been allocated...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy focuses on ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs and abilities. A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will probably be aware, a new post-primary school opened to serve the Maynooth area in September of this year. This school, which is under the patronage of the Kildare & Wicklow Education and Training Board, will cater for 1,000 pupils when fully developed. The school also has an all-Irish Aonad to add to all-Irish post-primary provision in the area. My Department is...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Leixlip area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy will probably be aware, a new post-primary school is due to open in Celbridge in 2015. The school cater for 1,000 pupils when fully developed. My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Celbridge area....

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the the Clane area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Kilcock area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Johnstownbridge area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Broadford area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Derrinturn area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.

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

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing the latest demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. This process includes an examination of the Carbury area. When this exercise has been completed arrangements will be made to make additional accommodation available where it is needed.