Results 8,161-8,180 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The Deputy will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Given the current...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 518 and 519 together. Between 1 January and 31 August 2012, QQI/ACELS processed 13 applications for ACELS recognition, of which 7 were successful and 6 were refused. In the light of the necessary preparations for the establishment of QQI through the amalgamation of HETAC, FETAC and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI), new applications...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: As ACELS is a voluntary scheme, English Language Schools may operate outside the scheme and may close without coming to the attention of the Department or its agencies. For that reason it is not possible to provide definitive figures. For 2013, the Department is aware of the closure of a single school offering English language tuition. The school concerned had had its recognition...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act, 2012, QQI is responsible for the establishment of an International Education Mark and related Code of Practice for the provision of education to international learners. QQI published its White Paper on the International Education Mark in May and will be publishing a draft Code of Practice, developed in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In developing the reforms of the international education sector, the two Departments had regard to a range of issues including protecting the consumer and education interests of genuine international students, the labour market implications, the integrity of the immigration regime as well as impacts on the sector, particularly high quality Irish education providers. On the establishment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The reforms referred to by the Deputy are necessary to protect the consumer and educational interests of genuine international students, to tackle abuse of the labour market and the immigration regime and to safeguard the strong international reputation of high-quality Irish education providers. The Policy Statement launched by the Minister for Justice and Equality and I on 2 September...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The decision to use tablet devices is a matter for the Board of Management of a school. Where the introduction of new technology is planned, it is advisable that there should be consultation with members of the school community including parents. The cost and other implications must be fully considered by the Boards of Management before a decision is made. An advice sheet on the adoption...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the acquisition of a site for permanent accommodation for the school to which he refers is at an advanced stage. The site acquisition is subject to satisfactory completion of the conveyancing process. Once the site acquisition is completed, officials from my Department will be in contact with the relevant school authorities with a view to progressing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am informed by QQI that the application referred to by the Deputy has been processed by ACELS/QQI and the provider concerned has been informed of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. It is a matter, in the first instance, for Caranua to plan for the delivery of its services and to ensure that its resources are adequately deployed so as to enable it to meet the demands being placed on it. I am aware...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board, is an independent statutory body established pursuant to the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The organisation's annual accounts, which it is required to prepare under section 31 of the 2012 Act, will set out the position in regard to its financial affairs. I understand that Caranua's 2013 accounts are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: It is a matter for the Board of Caranua to determine the range of approved services it will provide in accordance with section 8 of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The Act sets out the following four classes of approved services - mental health services, health and personal social services, educational services and housing support services. Section 8(3) provides that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department is currently analysing demographic data on a nationwide basis to determine where additional school accommodation might be needed from 2015 onwards. The areas to which the Deputy refers will be examined as part of this process at both primary and post-primary level. As part of the arrangements for establishing new post-primary schools, an initial decision is made by my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I am aware of an issue at the school site referred to by the Deputy. I would encourage all parties involved to use the appropriate industrial relations channels to resolve this current matter. School building projects which are funded from public monies, including the school project in question, are required to use the forms of contract provided under the Capital Works Management...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Generally, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Department's Five Year Construction Plan is focused on meeting those demographic needs and sets out the school projects that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: In view of the financial constraints imposed by the need to deliver on the Five Year Plan, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to provide an indicative timeframe for the provision of a permanent building for the school referred to by the Deputy. As I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 463 on 23 September, my Department's over-riding objective is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: A Road Safety programme for Transition Year has been available to schools since September 2008. It was developed by the Road Safety Authority in collaboration with my Department, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and the Professional Development Service for Teachers. The programme features inputs from agencies such as the ambulance service, fire service and An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (30 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. Where children have significant care needs whereby they...