Results 11,001-11,020 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Career Guidance. (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: While I accept that the Deputy is not suggesting this, I would not like to blame the second level guidance and counselling service for the rate of drop-out from third level.

Career Guidance. (30 Mar 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I have acknowledged that the Deputy did not do this. While there is a view that some blame is attached to second level, third level institutions could do much more in this regard. The national education psychological service must be strengthened. I want to bring this to its full complement. I want to introduce and honour a commitment on the chaplaincy service. While I want to improve guidance...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In November 2003 I announced an increase of €10 in the standard leaving certificate fee (€76 to €86). This represented an increase of 13%, and similar increases were then applied to other examination fees. The new amounts were formally notified to schools in December 2003 by the State Examinations Commission. Any information given by schools to parents prior to this was not based on a...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The school referred to by the Deputy currently has the services of a full-time and part-time resource teacher together with a shared learning support teacher. My Department has received applications for further special educational resources, SER, from this school and the position in this regard is as follows. Resources in respect of an emergency application for one of the persons referred to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The school in question has been allocated 1.04 whole-time equivalent teaching posts to cater for its pupils with special educational needs. A recent review of the school's needs concluded that the level of special teaching support already allocated to the school was sufficient to enable it to address the special educational needs of its students, including the student to whom the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I assure the Deputy that my Department intends to take a measured approach to considering the future of the three CABAS facilities in Dublin, Cork and Drogheda. My approach will be to ensure continuity of provision for the pupils in question. My Department appreciates the concerns of parents for greater certainty and, in this regard, I wish to confirm that my Department is prepared to...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 282 and 335 together. I am most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive education appropriate to their needs. There are seven facilities in the State operating on a pilot-project basis and using alternative educational methods for teaching children on the autistic spectrum. Three of the seven are CABAS...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I advise the Deputy that the provision of a personal assistant to enable the child in question attend a pre-school is a matter for the relevant health board. I can confirm that the child concerned is receiving support from my Department's visiting teacher service.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The proposed large-scale building project for the school for Nano Nagle's Special School, Listowel, County Kerry, is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website at www.education.ie This proposed project is at stage 2-3 — that is, outline sketch scheme-developed sketch schemes — of architectural planning. It has been assigned a...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department engages with over 4000 schools, colleges and other institutions largely without any intermediate tier. This can give rise to contractual arrangements covering employment and procurement of goods and services. In the case of its own operations the Department also enters contracts. The largest single area of contractual activity is the schools building programme where contracts in...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled in my Department at present and will be forwarded directly to him.

Written Answers — Educational Entitlements: Educational Entitlements (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The universities are autonomous bodies and, as such, may determine their own admissions policy. I understand from University College Cork that it cannot locate a record of an application or a refusal of an application for admission to nursing from the person concerned. Under the Equal Status Act 2000, educational establishments may not discriminate as regards the terms and conditions of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The criteria used for prioritising large-scale primary and post-primary school building projects is set out in appendix 1 and 2 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on my Department's website www.education.ie. As I announced when publishing the programme, a key strategy for school building projects going forward will be grounded on the budget day announcement of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together. The school in question has been allocated a total of 3.65 whole-time equivalent teacher posts and seven whole-time equivalent special needs assistant posts to cater for the special educational needs of the pupil in question and a number of other pupils with special needs attending the school.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 321 together. I established a working group to review all aspects of the syllabus and examination for the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge in 2001. The report of the working group was recently submitted to me. Issues dealt with in the report include the content and format of the examination modules, the standard of the examinations and the...

Written Answers — School Policies: School Policies (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In accordance with the rules for national schools, the length of the school day for pupils enrolled in infants or first class may, at the board of management's discretion, be reduced by one hour to four hours and 40 minutes. It is acknowledged that particular circumstances may arise whereby the implementation of the shorter day for these pupils can cause difficulties for some parents. Where...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: This proposed large-scale building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is listed in section 8 of the 2004 school building programme which is published on the Department's website at www.education.ie. This proposed project is at stage 3 — detailed plans-costs — of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by the Department in accordance with the published...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The property management section of the OPW is acting on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally. It is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school in question. However, due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it would be inappropriate for me to make any comment in relation to a specific site. The relevant information will...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: In addition to funding a number of national support services, for example in the areas of curricular reform and special needs, my Department supports a wide range of continuing professional development programmes provided by a network of education centres at local level for personnel working in primary and post-primary schools. In this regard the in-career development unit of my Department...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (17 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Of the 73 primary schools in County Louth, 37 currently have a service from the national educational psychological service, NEPS. All the schools that do not yet have a service (36) may avail of the scheme for commissioning psychological assessments, SCPA. Details of this scheme have been circulated to all schools and are also available on my Department's website. Under the Draft Development...