Results 8,581-8,600 of 17,531 for speaker:Jan O'Sullivan

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I hear what the Deputy says. I have not been in this job for very long. The system deals with all kinds of schools around the country and it is very important that it is transparent and seen to be fair, and that there is an appeal system. The appeal system does particularly take account of the small primary schools the Deputy is talking about. Where possible, I will ensure that there is...

Topical Issue Debate: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I thank Deputy McEntee for her good wishes and for giving me the opportunity to outline the position relating to staffing in primary schools. I note the issues raised by the Deputy. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: An architectural design competition was announced in June 2014 to develop a primary school building on the site referred to by the Deputy. Details of the competition announcement are on my Department's website. There are no plans at present to facilitate temporary accommodation on this site for a school during redevelopment works.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Remit (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is due to publish its policy in relation to re-engagement with its providers shortly. Re-engagement, or the formal agreement of quality assurance (QA) procedures with QQI, is a requirement for legacy providers, such as those referred to by the Deputy, under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training ) Act, 2012. It will happen...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Funding (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Deputy appears to be referring to the arrangement in 2013, where in Budget 2013 it was decided to reduce the non-pay grant to Vocational Education Committees (VECs)/ Education and Training Boards (ETBs) by €13.2 million. This decision took account of the capacity of VECs/ETBs to utilise cash balances on a once off basis. In 2014, this reduction in exchequer funding was mostly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Funding (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The reform of the further education and training (FET) sector envisages a key role for education and training boards (ETBs) in relation to the future delivery of FET in an integrated manner. Part of this involves the transfer of training centres from SOLAS to ETBs. 7 training centres and their staff transferred to ETBs on 1 January 2014 and the remaining 12 training centres transferred to 7...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Health and Safety Issues (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (16 Jul 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. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (16 Jul 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. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together. An all-in devolved grant was recently approved for the second school to which the Deputy refers in order to provide two additional resource classrooms. This decision was conveyed to the school authorities by letter in May 2014. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for yard works for their school building. As the scope of works for which funding was sought is outside the terms of the scheme it cannot be considered for funding. The school authority has been informed of this decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is due to publish its policy in relation to re-engagement with its providers shortly. Re-engagement, or the formal agreement of quality assurance (QA) procedures with QQI, is a requirement for legacy providers, such as those referred to by the Deputy, under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training ) Act, 2012. It will happen...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department recently received a submission concerning the establishment of an all-Irish post-primary school to serve the Ballincollig area. The Department's current five-year construction plan is focused on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Eligibility (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Under the terms of my Department's Primary School Transport Scheme children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kilometres from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language. An eligible child for whom no transport service is available may, following an application for transport...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) is due to publish its policy in relation to re-engagement with its providers shortly. Re-engagement, or the formal agreement of quality assurance (QA) procedures with QQI, is a requirement for legacy providers, such as those referred to by the Deputy, under the Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training ) Act, 2012. It will happen...

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

Jan O'Sullivan: As the Deputy is aware, a new school building for the gaelscoil in question is included on my Department's Five Year plan to go to construction in 2015/2016. I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has been working in conjunction with Cork County Council towards securing a permanent site to meet the needs of the gaelscoil concerned. In that regard, potential options have been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social and Affordable Housing Provision (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: Responsibility for social housing policy is primarily a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. In that regard, I understand that a new Social Housing Strategy is to be published by Q3 2014 and that in order to assist in its development, the Housing Agency has invited submissions by 31 July 2014. Under the provisions of the 2002 Indemnity...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provided grant aid of €250,000 to the school to which he refers in May 2009 to purchase a new prefabricated unit. It would be expected that this accommodation would still be in good condition. I also wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided grant aid amounting to €1.965 million to the school in recent years which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The reform of the further education and training (FET) sector envisages a key role for education and training boards (ETBs) in relation to the future delivery of FET in an integrated manner. Part of this involves the transfer of training centres from SOLAS to ETBs. 7 training centres and their staff transferred to ETBs on 1 January 2014 and the remaining 12 training centres transferred to 7...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (16 Jul 2014)

Jan O'Sullivan: The attached table sets out the main Acts under my remit which contain Sections yet to be commenced, the Sections concerned and the purpose of the un-commenced Sections. Act Sections yet to be commenced Details Teaching Council Act 2001 Sections 7(2), 39, 41-47, 60, The provisions which are not yet commenced relate to two areas, fitness to teach and continuing professional development...