Results 8,801-8,820 of 13,254 for speaker:Seán Sherlock

Friendly Societies and Industrial and Provident Societies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2013 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (9 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: I am very pleased to have had the opportunity to pilot this Bill through both the Seanad and the Dáil. I thank the Members of this House and the Seanad for their comments and what was a fruitful debate on the Bill during its passage through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Bill is not designed to solve all the issues affecting the co-operative sector but to address a number of...

Other Questions: School Patronage (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: I am aware of the concerns of all the patrons of smaller rural schools, including those of a Protestant ethos. How best to sustain provision for widely dispersed and small Protestant communities presents as a particular challenge, especially in any locality where the number enrolling in the school is declining to single figures and amalgamation is not an option because there is no other...

Other Questions: School Patronage (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: On the Deputy's question on dialogue, there is continuing dialogue on ensuring pluralism within the education system. Let me refer to a specific example. With the Bishop of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, Dr. Paul Colton, and Mr. Owens of Cork Education and Training Board, we have in Mallow, where a small Church of Ireland school closed, fashioned a new model that will create a precedent for an...

Other Questions: School Patronage (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: There is no doubt about that. There is satisfactory dialogue on ensuring the future of these schools and on recognising the challenges they face regarding pluralism in education. The answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes".

Other Questions: Gaelcholáistí Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: I am open to correction, but it is my understanding the Department has confirmed that, if is demonstrated that there is sufficient demand for education through the medium of Irish in the Aonad over a four year cycle, the establishment of an independent gaelcoláiste can be considered.

Other Questions: Gaelcholáistí Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: The Deputy and I will discuss the matter.

Other Questions: Gaelcholáistí Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: If I am not mistaken, the Deputy has raised this issue previously.

Other Questions: Gaelcholáistí Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: I hope, therefore, that I am not repeating the same reply to the Deputy. To date, the Department has not received any formal submission from parents in north Kildare on the provision of a gaelcholáiste in the north-eastern Kildare region. There is a five year construction plan which is well established. The establishment of any new school is, therefore, considered in the context of...

Other Questions: Gaelcholáistí Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: As I understand it, a total of 80 places are being made available through the Aonad. If the Deputy is suggesting the demand from the community for a gaelcholáiste is such that the Aonad is not a sufficient response, we will have to find a way of facilitating a further conversation based on an interrogation of the survey. The reply furnished to me suggests that included in the first...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Courses Availability (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: It is important to state that All Hallows is a private college and is not in receipt of core grant funding. However, the Department provides grants in lieu of tuition fee funding to the college in respect of three approved undergraduate courses. This funding amounted to over €430,000 for the 2013-2014 academic year in respect of the 119 eligible students who attended courses for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Courses Availability (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: I am not unsympathetic to the case the Deputy is making, particularly in view of the impact the course has had on those individuals who, as he states, were out of formal education for such a long period. I contend that it is not necessarily for the Department to intervene. In circumstances in which a course of this nature could be provided by another institution, I would make the argument...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Courses Availability (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: An exception was made. It must be remembered that it was a part-time course and that funding would not normally be provided in such circumstances. The Deputy referred to a particular institution, but there are any number of institutions throughout the State which could, subject to their internal criteria, subsume the course on a full-time basis. I do not know how the Department could...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: In March 2011, the macroeconomic picture in this country was abysmal and we were a programme country. However, we have been able to maintain the capital budget and we have a five-year programme where we are replacing prefabs and building new schools. Therefore, in spite of the economic circumstances in which we find ourselves, we have been able to build out and replace the prefabs that have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Third Level Courses Availability (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: The position is that Ireland received funding for a European globalisation adjustment fund, EGF, programme to support redundant workers from SR Technics. This consisted of a personalised package of guidance, training, educational and enterprise supports which were delivered to the eligible workers concerned during an implementation period from March 2009 to October 2011. Measures included...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: Provisional net overall expenditure to the end of June 2014 by the Department is more or less on target. Expenditure of almost €3.88 billion is running just €24 million, or 0.6%, behind profile, with €7 million on current expenditure and €17 million on capital. The Department continues to closely monitor the financial position with a view to ensuring that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: School Funding (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: I agree with some of the sentiment of the Deputy. In a perfect world, we would have the perfect pot of money to allow us to do everything we could within the education sphere to ensure the amount of voluntary contributions made by parents through charitable donations and fundraising was lessened considerably. There is a macroeconomic picture, however, and we must reduce the deficit to 3% by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: It is important in giving effect to proper public policy and proper educational policy that due consideration and time is given to all the inputs involved in the making of such a report. One must examine issues such as the diversity of provision in an area, the ethos of schools, parental choice, the language of instruction, distances pupils must travel and the provision and costs of school...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: It is the Government's intention to publish the report and due consideration is being given to its contents.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Schools Review (8 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: The report on the value for money review of small primary schools will be published as soon as my Government colleagues and I have finalised our consideration of it and its recommendations. I am not at this time in a position to give a precise publication date. The report contains much detailed technical data concerning small schools in the primary sector and also a suite of recommendations...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (1 Jul 2014)

Seán Sherlock: It would be on the cheap anyway.