Results 8,281-8,300 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Roughly, because we do not know exact numbers.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will not carry out negotiations here at the committee but we are close enough to the budget now. We have already engaged with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and will continue to do so. I cannot give Deputy O'Brien any exact figures at this stage but I think he knows the ballpark in which we are operating.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: They are very much average figures. Other things could also come into play, in terms of other items of expenditure. I do not want it to appear too simplistic, but these are the kind of figures that are in the mix at the moment. Perhaps I should go on to some of the other issues. I intend to publish the value-for-money report on small schools as soon as my Government colleagues and I have...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I do not know when-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I would like to deal with it as quickly as possible but I need time to discuss it with colleagues. Deputy O'Brien raised the issue of the new model for special education and that was also raised, I think, by Senator Moran and some others as well. We do not expect it to be ready for next year but it could be. The committee has seen the draft proposals. There must be widespread...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: That refers to SNAs, etc. That is simply because of the general delay in vetting. There are problems with delays in vetting across the system and it causes problems for community organisations, for community employment, CE, schemes right across the system. Last year extra resources were put into the vetting office and that is under constant review in order to speed up the process but that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I will do my best. I will respond to a few individuals together who raised the same questions. I thank the committee for engaging on issues like patronage and I will revert soon on the admissions to schools Bill when it is brought through the Oireachtas. We will have an opportunity to engage, in more depth, on some of these issues. Deputies McConalogue and O'Brien asked about the coming...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: That is what was in the original plan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Where is that stated?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection: Vote 26 - Update on Pre-Budget and Policy Issues: Minister for Education and Skills (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank you, Chairman, and members of the joint committee for extending the invitation to the Minister of State, Deputy English and I to discuss my Department’s mid-year expenditure position for 2014, and the position for 2015. This is the first time both of us have had the opportunity to meet the committee. We look forward to fruitful and positive discussions on education and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Expenditure (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: A 2012 Comptroller and Auditor General report noted that Universities and Institutes of Technology (IOTs) had cash balances of €706 million at the end of the 2010/11 academic year. When account was taken of restricted reserves and other capital funding requirements, and pension reserves, the cash balance for recurrent purposes was €568 million which also included private sources...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The decision to increase the Student Contribution, which stands at €2,750 for the current academic year, to €3,000 by 2015/16 has already been signalled by the previous Minister. The Deputy will appreciate that in line with normal practice I am unable to comment on the budgetary process. It should be noted that some 50% of students who qualify for free fees have the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Provision (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: SOLAS, with the input of the ESRI undertook a comprehensive consultation process with a range of key stakeholders inside and outside of the FET sector as part of the development of a five year strategy for the FET Sector. This important strategy has now been completed and gives a road-map for the ongoing development of the FET sector over the next five years. The FET Strategy contains a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Expenditure (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: There was no change in Budget 2014 to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant or the higher special rate of grant for the 2014 financial year. The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option. The Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Administration (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I can inform the Deputy that in common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximize...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family Agency (EWS) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The EWS may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the EWS is Educational Welfare Service of the Child and Family...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The delivery of the proposed new Education Campus in Carrigaline, Co Cork has been devolved to Cork Education & Training Board. The Campus will comprise a Gaelcholaiste, Gaelscoil and SONAS Special Primary School. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. Subject to the planning process it is envisaged that construction will commence in 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The primary staffing schedule currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils, with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. Schools have autonomy in relation to the deployment of classroom teachers to individual classes. My Department's guidance to schools is that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible taking all relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: While I am unaware of the specific context in which the Deputy is raising this issue, I am setting out below the arrangements in place to ensure quality delivery and value for money in Education and Training Boards training contracts awarded pursuant to the SOLAS contracted training procedures. The Deputy will note that the procedures provide for a mix of academic qualifications and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Sep 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs, including autism, is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with...