Results 11,161-11,180 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Music Curriculum: Music Curriculum (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 332 to 334, inclusive, together. The revised music curriculum, launched in 1999, comprises three strands: listening and responding; performing; and composing. The listening and responding strand emphasises the importance of purposeful, active listening, providing opportunities to listen to a range of familiar and unfamiliar musical pieces, focusing on...

Written Answers — Schools Inspection Service: Schools Inspection Service (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Members of the inspectorate may be required to report to the Minister on matters related to schools or centres of education in any part of the State, either at the request of the Minister or at the initiative of the chief inspector. For administrative convenience, the Inspectorate is deployed regionally and each primary school is assigned to an inspector. When a vacancy occurs in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The 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 my Department's website at www.education.ie. This project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, detail design-bill of quantities. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The position regarding service as an apprentice or tradesman with Bord na Móna is that it has not been possible to reckon such service for purposes of a pension with a vocational education committee as the pension scheme designated for tradesmen and manual workers generally in Bord na Móna, that is, the regular works employees' superannuation scheme, is not approved by the Department of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: As part of the small schools initiative my Department offered a maximum grant of €275,000 to meet the accommodation needs at Dysart national school. This initiative operates on a devolved basis and allows boards of management to address the accommodation and building priorities with a guaranteed amount of funding and gives the boards control over the pace at which building works proceed. I...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The decentralisation policy decided by the Government and announced by the Minister for Finance on budget day 2003 provides for the transfer of some 10,300 civil servants to various locations outside Dublin. Included in this policy is the transfer of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, HETAC, and its staff to Edenderry, County Offaly. It is not open to me to make an exception to...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: An application from Donabate-Portrane Educate Together national school for permanent recognition is under consideration in the school planning section of my Department. The criteria for granting permanent recognition are published on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The occupation by the school of its new accommodation in February 2004 will be a factor taken into account in...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: Donabate-Portrane Educate Together national school does not have permanent recognition from my Department, therefore, it is not eligible for capital grant aid for either small or large-scale works. However, my Department is aware that the school will require temporary accommodation in September 2004. When an application has been received in this regard, it will be processed as expeditiously...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: I am most anxious that all children, including children with autistic spectrum disorders receive education appropriate to their needs. I understand from my officials that the pupil in question is currently enrolled in a special class for autism in a mainstream school in north Dublin. This class has a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 and has the support of two special needs assistants. I further...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is currently reviewing existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. In that context, my officials have initiated discussions on the matter with representative interests. At this stage, it would be premature to anticipate the outcome. I can confirm, however that the basic purpose of that review is to ensure that each school has the...

Written Answers — Retirement Age: Retirement Age (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: It was announced in the budget that the Government has decided that the minimum pension age should be increased to 65 years for most new entrants to the public service, including teachers, from 1 April 2004. In announcing the Government's decision on pension age and on the intended abolition of compulsory retirement age for most new entrant public servants from 1 April 2004, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: As I previously stated, in appointing the new National Council for Special Education I put in place a group of people with a wide range of knowledge and experience in this area. In doing this I did not set out to create a council which was representative of any particular sectoral interests, as I feel that it is very important that the council should operate in a cohesive, non representative way.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: On foot of a Government decision, I formally established the State Examinations Commission on 6 March 2003. The commission now has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The commission has taken additional measures to address the shortfall in examiners and I have been assured that, based on past experience, the number of applications now on...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is currently exploring the possibility of acquiring a site for the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will be...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The property management section of the OPW, which acts on behalf of my Department in relation to site acquisitions generally, is currently involved in negotiations to purchase a site for the new school referred to by the Deputy. Due to the commercial sensitivities of site acquisitions, it is not proposed at this stage to identify specific sites to be acquired. However, this information will...

Written Answers — Education Welfare Service: Education Welfare Service (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The Education (Welfare) Act was fully commenced on 5 July 2002. Under the Act, the National Educational Welfare Board was established to ensure that every child attends school regularly or otherwise receives an education. To discharge its responsibilities, the board is developing a nationwide service to provide welfare-focused services to children, families and schools. It has appointed a...

Written Answers — Staff Development: Staff Development (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. I have arranged for the information to be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: The inspector's report referred to has been received and is being considered by my officials. The management authority of Lauragh national school has also applied for funding for roof repairs under the summer works scheme. Applications under this scheme are being processed in my Department and details of successful applicants under the scheme for 2004 will be published on my Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is aware of the recent decision of An Bord Pleanála to grant planning permission for the project in question subject to certain conditions. This project is at an early stage of architectural planning. It has been assigned a band 2 rating by my Department in accordance with the published criteria for prioritising large-scale projects. The budget announcement regarding...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Feb 2004)

Noel Dempsey: 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 which use alternative educational methods for teaching children on the autistic spectrum. Three of the seven are CABAS facilities which use the teaching method approach involving a...