Bhreathnach, NiamhThursday, 17 April 1997 |
Dáil Éireann Debate
Page of 128
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Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Departmental Staff.
Was asked: if she is seeking additional staff to assign to the examinations branch of her Department; if she has satisfied herself that there is sufficient staff in the examinations branch to ensure the smooth r...
My Department has made a submission to the Department of Finance for additional staff in accordance with procedures set down by Government. Discussions with officials of that Department are continuin...
I do not have the precise number. A number of new posts are being offered and we have put in place the acting up posts and consequential filling of some posts sought by the union. An offer has been ...
This dispute affected the leaving certificate applied programme because the union considered that its members' workloads were intolerable and that staff resources were inadequate. Extra work is arisi...
The Department of Finance has conducted a survey of the needs not only of the examinations branch but of the special education section in Athlone. That is ongoing and was relevant to the number of po...
We are anxious that the Department's workload be tackled. We were able to respond by making an offer on staff numbers. The workload in the special education section is increasing also. An offer of ...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Education Costs.
Was asked: if she will publish the cost framework undertaken by the Department of Finance prior to the publication of the White Paper on Education, Charting Our Education Future, in relation to the cost implicat...
Was asked: the progress, if any, she has made in establishing the cost of the regional education boards as proposed in the Education Bill.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together. As I have indicated to Deputies on a number of occasions, the Government decision on the funding of initiatives in the White Paper, Charting Our Educ...
I refer the Deputies to the formula agreed by the Department of Finance in relation to funding of proposals for the education boards which is the outcome of work done with the Department of Education....
There is nothing to publish.
There was work done but there is nothing to publish. There is a commitment in the Department of Finance on the future funding of education within the Maastricht Treaty guidelines. Despite Deputy Mar...
The budget for the Department has nearly doubled in my three to four years there. We must ensure that, with such massive investment by a Government that is so committed to investing in education, suc...
Deputies should listen to the 3,000 communities served by our primary and secondary schools. Parents involved in these schools are enthusiastic to play their roles in making decisions on education ra...
The voices of teachers and parents were not heard by those now in Opposition. Deputies who meet people over the weekend should listen to them saying that schools and parishes are looking forward to a ...
——but when decisions will be made regionally. They will be able to seek remedial and psychological aid, teaching for travellers and support for gaelscoileanna. Those decisions will not be taken by a...
That bureaucracy served the nation well until education became available to most people. We spend almost £30 million administering the system and consultants are looking at the regionalisation of th...
This is probably the fourth occasion this matter has been debated. I have some quotations of the Minister for Finance when replying to a parliamentary question of 19 October 1995 on the costings of t...
I keep repeating to the Deputy: I am sorry, I have not got the information but he does not believe me.
I have not——
There are variable costs associated with education——
My Department has a budget of £2.3 billion with attendant administrative costs, some of which I have already listed. As a Minister who has witnessed this budget reach such a level——
I said “no”; I have not got anything to publish.
I have no information to give. The White Paper contains a formula, one which the Department of Finance, with Government approval——
It is most unusual in the case of a White Paper — the Deputy asked me to examine other White Papers — to have to confirm that such costings are normal. A White Paper points out the future direction o...
We expend £26 million out of a total budget of £2.3 billion on administering the education budget which has increased by almost 50 per cent. Since October 1995 I have answered questions regularly her...
No doubt I can look forward to debating the Education Bill, line by line, with members of the Select Committee on Social Affairs. It is worth putting on record the consultation that has taken place——
Sometimes we moved forward more slowly than I would have wished because of irrational fears, threats and insults thrown at those who might want to support such moves.
The history of reforming our education system will show that it has been a rough journey.
We have moved forward and will debate the Education Bill, line by line, within the Select Committee on Social Affairs. Members will be able to pursue these issues.
Of course, the Department of Finance has the costings of the overall education system, ranging from the payment of teachers to pensions, to school buildings, all of the services. If Deputies examine m...
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Expert Group on Regional Technical Colleges.
Was asked: the number of times the expert group established to consider the matter of the upgrading of regional technical colleges to the status of institutes of technology has met; when she expects the group to...
The high level group to advise on the technological sector has met on four occasions. I understand that the group has considered reports and documents relevant to its terms of reference. It has also ...
I do not intend to engage in speculation; I prefer to be factual about this matter. The high level group met on four occasions and studied submissions from each of the regional technical colleges. In...
The Deputy has asked three questions. First, on the question of whether I was satisfied I would receive the report by the end of April, I have had no indication otherwise. Second, the Deputy said I h...
I did not say it. The report the Deputy got may not be quite the truth. The Deputy was not at the meeting, I was.
The matter will be confirmed because the college is very involved in the process and, therefore, we are not responding to a glib promise. It is committed to a system being put in place which would al...
I refer the Deputy to the chapter in the White Paper where the future of the third level sector is clearly spelt out. It is an exciting sector and meets many needs from certificate to diploma to degr...
I have a record of doing it. When an expert group is given terms of reference and asked to make recommendations — I thank Professor Donnelly for accepting the chair of the group — for consideration by...
I cannot confirm how people from Cork reacted to a press statement. The report on Waterford Regional Technical College was available to me from July 1996. It was produced by a committee of experts w...
The Deputy cannot put words in my mouth, although he may paint a picture that I do not see. It was publicly known that the Higher Education Authority had been asked to put together an expert group wh...
Legislation is promised with regard to the HEA. The order for Waterford is being prepared.
There will be legislation if it is required.
The order for changing the name, which is important, will come into effect——
When it is ready.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Priority Questions. - Art and Design Education Facilities.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, she has to upgrade facilities in the art and design education sector, in particular at the National College of Art and Design, Crawford College, Cork, COMAD, Portland Row, Dubli...
As part of the overall strategic capital development programme for the third level sector, proposals for upgrading all teaching facilities, including art and design, are being formulated in consultati...
In planning the development of this sector there was a need for a very large investment. I thank the Deputy for recognising that an investment has been made in these colleges and in other parts of th...
I acknowledged the European Union's investment in third level education but I remind Deputies that investment also involves Exchequer funding. The budget provided by the Department of Finance to my D...
As I said earlier, I inherited a serious position in this sector.
I did not plaster the walls in Portland Row. However, I made massive investments over the past four years. The Deputies challenged me in the past about the percentage of European funding devoted to ...
Other Questions. - Review of Bullying Guidelines.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
Was asked: if the review of bullying guidelines has been completed; and if she intends to fundamentally reconsider her Department's policy on the phenomenon.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 9, 12, 22, 23, 31, 40, 42, 48, 49 and 53 together. Guidelines on countering bullying behaviour in primary and second level schools were issued by my Department to s...
I am not sure that using a term other than “bullying” would contribute to the debate. The days of dismissing complaints about bullying by telling children to stand up for themselves in the school yar...
The Deputy referred to the home-school-community liaison service. At the Easter conferences there was discussion of the bullying of adults as well as children. Satisfactory progress is being made. ...
The research to which the Deputy referred shows that 34 per cent of the third class students surveyed never told anyone they had been bullied. This sets down a marker and presents a challenge to thos...
The available resources are being well used, although further investment in services to which the Government is committed would be welcomed by the Minister as well as the Deputies opposite.
Other Questions. - Educational Schemes.
Was asked: the number of children benefiting from Early Start, Breaking the Cycle, home-school-community liaison and teacher-counsellor services respectively; the proposals, if any, she has for further increasin...
The most up-to-date returns available to my Department relate to participation in the services in question in September 1996. At that stage the following was the position: 1,566 children were partic...
Other Questions. - 1996 Leaving Certificate Results.
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
Was asked: the number of candidates in the 1996 leaving certificate examination who had their marks revised as a result of clerical checks at the examination centre in Athlone prior to the issue of results, cler...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 17, 18, 19, 28, 39, 43, 55, 57, 58 and 59 together. Candidates presented a total of 806,663 written, oral, aural and practical items of work for the 1996 leaving ce...
There were 60,000 pupils involved.
That was the number of pupils involved.
I have the percentage but not the number.
The Minister looks at the answers and, if necessary, requests more information. I apologise if I do not have the figures requested. The total number of grades revised was 914 or 0.1 per cent out of a...
I have given the Deputy the percentage and the total figure and he should be able to work out the number.
According to the appeal statistics for 1996, 391,999 grades were awarded, 10,436 grades were appealed and 961 or 0.25 per cent of grades were upgraded. The number of appeals was low, while the number...
Parents, students and schools can be confident that the system works. The system was assessed by Price Waterhouse which recommended that we should inform those involved in examinations of how the sys...
Adjournment Debate. - Lucan (Dublin) Multi-denominational School.
I wish to thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It gives me an opportunity to clarify the position. There is no application in my Department for the establishment of a new multi-denominational sch...
Adjournment Debate. - Classroom Assistants.
I am fully aware of the case made by the authorities at Scoil Iosagáin to retain the current child care assistant post to cater for the needs of the special class for moderately mentally handicapped p...
Adjournment Debate. - Knockanean (Clare) School.
I am pleased the Deputy has given me an opportunity to outline to the House the Department's position regarding Knockanean national school, County Clare. I met representatives from the school during ...
I am astonished at the amount of investment that has had to be made in the Deputy's constituency. While I am committed to resolving the accommodation problems at Knockanean, I am not in a position to...
In the past four years the Government has increased significantly the capital funding for schools and substantial progress has been made in reducing the arrears. I accept that more needs to be done f...
Written Answers. - School Amalgamation.
Was asked: if she will ensure that the initial suggestion to acquire a 16 acre site will be proceeded with rather than a new proposal to acquire a smaller site of ten acres in relation to the proposed amalgamati...
I am not aware of any proposal to acquire a ten acre site for the proposed new community school. A feasibility study has been carried out of the proposed site at Ferrybank, Waterford. As a result of ...
Written Answers. - Third Level Places.
Was asked: if the restrictive quota on Higher Diploma in Education places will be lifted in view of the mobility of teachers and the recognition of teacher qualifications between member states; and if she will m...
The current quota of 800 for admissions to the Higher Diploma in Education was set on the basis of a recommendation by the Higher Education Authority. The HEA's advice was based on recommendations of ...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: when funding will be made available for the extension of Deravoy primary school, County Monaghan.
The architectural planning for the proposed building project at Deravoy national school is under way and the school authorities were advised recently to seek planning permission based on drawings appr...
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Examination.
Was asked: when assessments for special leaving certificate students will be conducted by her Department.
I take it that the Deputy's question refers to the assessment of task-work for the leaving certificate applied examination. Following consultation with schools offering the leaving certificate applied...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: if she is satisfied with the safety of the mechanical standards of the vehicles being used by Bus Éireann for school transport; the frequency of such vehicle testing; and if she will make a statement ...
Bus Éireann operates the school transport scheme on behalf of my Department and has a wide range of checking procedures in place to ensure a safe and reliable service.
Written Answers. - Scoil Cholmcille, Gaillimh.
Was asked: an míneoidh sí cén fáth a bhfuil moill ar chead a thabhairt dul ar aghaidh le tógáil seomraí breise ag scoil náisiúnta Cholmcille, Baile na hAbhann, Contae na Gaillimhe; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ...
Tar éis dom breithniú a dhéanamh ar an gClár Tógála Chaipitil do scoileanna náisiúnta, tá cead tugtha agam tairiscintí a lorg, agus conradh a dhéanamh, i leith seomra breise a chur ar fáil do scoil ná...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: her position in relation to primary school transport in County Donegal; and if she will initiate a survey in relation to this matter.
The main objective of the school transport scheme is to provide a basic level of service for children who live long distances from school and who would otherwise experience difficulty attending school...
Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.
Was asked: when works required to rectify the drainage problem at Rathgormack national school, Rathgormack, County Waterford, will be carried out, and approval granted for the provision of a basketball court, bo...
My Department's architect will visit the school shortly to assess the work required. Following the assessment, my Department will be in touch with the school about the project.
Written Answers. - Literacy Skills.
Was asked: the steps, if any, she intends to take to address the problems of poor literacy skills; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The Government White Paper, Charting Our Education Future, has a major objective that there should be no students with serious literacy and numeracy problems in early primary education within the next...
Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.
Was asked: when progress will be made on the badly needed extension together with other remedial repairs to Waterpark College, Park Road, Waterford.
The school authorities have recently submitted additional documentation which is required as part of the stage II — outline sketch scheme — planning for the extension and refurbishment works to the sc...
Written Answers. - Detention Centres.
Was asked: when she intends to complete her examination of the report reviewing the overall provision of security and other matters for young offenders, in particular, at the Oberstown campus; and when plans wil...
Was asked: the plans, if any, she has to provide a secure detention place for young offenders; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together. The report to which Deputy Sargent refers deals with the feasibility of introducing a range of physical security measures at the Oberstown campus. ...
Written Answers. - Sport Participation.
Was asked: if he will recommend that part of public moneys given to sport be used to encourage the participation of women in view of the fact that most public money given to sport benefits men and in view of the...
Annual funding is provided by my Department to national governing bodies of sport catering specifically for women's sport as well as those governing bodies which provide for both men and women. In ad...
Written Answers. - Skills Shortages.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, she has to meet the major skills shortages which were signalled to her Department over three years ago.
Together with my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Deputy R. Bruton, I recently announced the Government's action plan of skills to ensure an ongoing supply of suitably qualified ...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a major extension is needed for Ballygunner national school, Ballygunner, County Waterford, in view of the extensive building which has taken place in ...
I am aware of the accommodation difficulties at Ballygunner national school, County Waterford, and for this reason I included a major building project at the school in my Department's 1995 capital pro...
Was asked: when funding will be made available for the replacement of Knockconan primary school, Emyvale, County Monaghan.
The architectural planning for the proposed building project at Knockconan national school is under way and the school authorities were advised recently to prepare detailed drawings in respect of outl...
Was asked: if Scoil Mhíchíl Cíosóg, Inis, County Clare, met the criteria for selecting projects set out in the National School Capital Programme publication; if not, the reason therefore; if so, the reason it ha...
I have recently completed a review of the primary capital programme for 1997 and, as a result of this review, I have authorised my Department to proceed with the tender and contract processes for Gael...
Was asked: if she will allocate a grant of £30,000 to cover the cost of professional fees in respect of the construction of a science room and two classrooms at St. Mary's College, Ballisodare, County Sligo, the...
Was asked: if she will accede to the request of the board of management of St. Mary's College, Ballisodare, County Sligo, for her Department to pay the £30,000 professional fees element of the cost of the new sc...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 45 together. The recommended tender for the project at St Mary's College, Ballisodare, is acceptable and my Department is prepared to provide a grant of £75,000...
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, she has to provide support for students on post-leaving certificate courses in view of the commitment given in the programme, A Government of Renewal; and if she will make a sta...
My Department will provide more than £39 million this year towards the running costs of such courses, and I abolished fees for PLC courses with effect from 1995-6. To provide a maintenance grants sche...
Written Answers. - School Truancy.
Was asked: the progress, if any, which has been made in relation to the truancy and school attendance report of 1994; the action, if any, which will be taken to address the problems of truancy at primary and sec...
The school attendance/truancy report was published in April 1994. In 1995 I established a truancy task force with the following terms of reference: to examine the submissions received from interested ...
Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.
Was asked: if she will make the necessary funding available as a matter of urgency for the provision of a link building already sanctioned for Our Lady of Mercy primary school, Pearse Road, Sligo, and for the in...
My Department is not in a position at present to provide grant-aid towards the cost of the proposed major works at Our Lady of Mercy primary school, Pearse Road, Sligo. This case will be considered ag...
Written Answers. - Education of Traveller Children.
Was asked: the percentage of traveller children of primary school age currently participating in education; the proposals, if any, she has for continuing the development of the visiting teacher service and monit...
Research conducted by the Task Force on the Travelling Community in 1995 indicated that of the estimated 5,000 traveller children of primary school age, 4,200 were attending primary schools at that ti...
Written Answers. - Second Level Education.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, she has to facilitate children repeating classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The circumstances in which an individual pupil may repeat a year at second level were advised to schools in May 1995 in the form of Circular M2/95 — Repeat of a Year at Post-Primary Level. This circu...
Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, she has to appoint additional remedial teachers at primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
My capacity to allocate additional remedial teacher posts in any year is determined by resource availability in that year and the level of competing demands from other special needs areas. The positi...
Written Answers. - Capitation Grants.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the high concern by school management boards regarding the level of capitation grants available in view of current demands; her understanding of the current demands;...
I am aware of some concerns among school management boards regarding the level of capitation grants in relation to current demands on school funds. I regret that due to the many competing demands on l...
Written Answers. - Public Libraries.
Was asked: her views on whether our public libraries are of enormous benefit to the community, in particular school-going children and students, for the purposes of information, availability and research; if she...
Public libraries are of great benefit to the community. They are useful for school-going children and for students for the purposes of accessing information and for conducting small scale research pro...
Written Answers. - Publication of Reports.
Was asked: the number of times the expert group on the regional technical colleges has met; the time limit, if any, she has set for the group to report; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The high level group to advise on the technological sector has met on four occasions. I understand that the group has considered reports and documents relevant to its terms of reference. It has also ...
Written Answers. - Disruptive Students.
Was asked: the services currently available for difficult or badly behaved children; the proposals, if any, she has for improving those services in the interests of both the children affected and other pupils wh...
Since my appointment as Minister for Education, I have introduced a number of measures to address the problem of children who are difficult or disruptive in the classroom.
Written Answers. - Literacy Skills.
Was asked: if the findings of the recent OECD report on literacy levels have been made available to her Department; if so, the nature of the report's indication on literacy levels in Ireland; and if she will mak...
The report on the results of the Irish national adult literacy survey, which was carried out under the aegis of the OECD, has not yet been completed. When it has been received and considered by my Dep...
Written Answers. - Vocational Education Committees.
Was asked: the steps, if any, which are taken to ensure that petty cash accounts in vocational education committees are used for the purpose intended and not as imprest accounts; and if she will make a statement...
The Vocational Education (Accounts, Audit and Procedure) Regulations, 1931 issued pursuant to the Vocational Education Act, 1930 set out the requirements in relation to the financial management and re...
Written Answers. - Pre-University Courses.
Was asked: if she will provide support to ensure that the preparation for university and college courses can continue at Roslyn Park College after summer 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy may be aware, the question of funding pre-university and college courses such as those at Roslyn Park is one of the recommendations in the report of the Commission on the Status of Peop...
Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.
Was asked: if she will sanction permanent appointments at St. Angela's College of Education, Lough Gill, County Sligo, in view of the fact that there are currently six temporary wholetime academic members of sta...
Was asked: if she has read the KPMG management consultants' forward plan for St. Angela's College of Education, Lough Gill, County Sligo; if she has endorsed the plan; and if she will provide additional resource...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. A review group, under the auspices of the Higher Education Authority, is examining teacher supply and demand in the second level sector, including ...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: the amount of money allocated to the school bus transport system in County Donegal for each of the years from 1994 to 1996; if she will give a breakdown of the way in which such funding was spent; and...
The school transport scheme is a national one and is funded accordingly. Pupils transported under the scheme traverse county boundaries. My Department does not provide funding for school transport ...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the accommodation crisis in St. Patrick's boys' national school, Donabate, County Dublin, where two classes of four-year-olds will have to be turned away in Septembe...
My Department is aware of the accommodation needs at St. Patrick's boys' national school, Donabate, County Dublin. The planning and building unit has been in contact with the school on this issue wit...
Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.
Was asked: if she will appoint a remedial teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the current arrangements require a teacher to cover three schools with a pupil complement ...
Was asked: the plans, if any, she has to provide access for the pupils at a school (details supplied) to a remedial teacher; when this access will be made possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter...
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the urgent need to appoint a remedial teacher on a shared basis between Kill, Drung, Lisboduff and Drung Central schools; and if she will make a statement on the mat...
Was asked: if she will provide remedial teaching facilities in schools (details supplied) in County Wicklow in order to redress the inequity of a situation where up to 30 per cent of the pupils in these schools ...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 95, 110 and 122 together. I am not in a position at present to indicate whether additional remedial teachers will be made available to primary schools for the 1997...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the substandard and unhygienic conditions at St. Cronan's boys' school in Bray, County Wicklow; if her attention has further been drawn to the delay which has alread...
I am aware of the current accommodation situation at St. Cronan's boys' school, Bray, County Wicklow, and for this reason, I included the school in the capital programme. Inclusion of the school in ...
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the expense involved in the purchase of materials for students of art, design and fashion, which is approximately £60 per week; if she will make resources available ...
As the Deputy will be aware, the State now meets the tution fees of eligible students who are attending full-time undergraduate courses, which must generally be of at least two years duration, at appr...
Written Answers. - College Staffing.
Was asked: if she will appoint a full-time technician and 42 additional part-time craft assistant hours to the Limerick School of Art and Design; when she will give approval to this request; and if she will make...
It is a matter for the regional technical college Limerick to make appointments to posts within its sanctioned staffing allocation.
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
Was asked: if she will provide for the payment of fees by her Department to students attending United Kingdom universities for courses funded by the United Kingdom Department of Health, particularly for courses ...
Was asked: if she will extend maintenance grants to United Kingdom universities for medicine, physical education, teacher training and pharmacy for the 1997-98 academic year.
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 99 and 102 together. The schemes of student support provided for the extension of means tested maintenance grants in the 1996-97 academic year to students following ...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: if she will carry out an audit of the school transport fleet in this country in view of the concerns of parents about the safety of vehicles and incumbent regulations on transportation from the EU.
I can assure the Deputy that safety standards of vehicles for school transport is of paramount importance to my Department and to Bus Éireann, who operate the scheme on its behalf. Bus Éireann places ...
Written Answers. - Education Bill Implementation.
Was asked: if she has prepared a cost benefit analysis on the implementation of all aspects of the Education Bill; if so, the cost in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware, the implementation of the Education Bill, 1997 will involve radically changing the administrative framework for education and a major refocusing of the Department of Educa...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if she will reconsider an application by Creevy national school, Ballyshannon, County Donegal, for an extension to the school; if she will meet a deputation from the board of management; and if she wi...
I regret to inform the Deputy that as my diary is fully booked for the foreseeable future, I am unable to meet a deputation from Creevy national school, Ballyshannon. The position regarding the applic...
Written Answers. - Youth Projects.
Was asked: if she will finance teaching hours for Deonagh which is a project attached to the probation service based in Fettercairn house and which deals with youths from that area and enables them to explore th...
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has sanctioned part-time hours for this project for the current school year. The matter will be reviewed for the 1997-98 school year.
Written Answers. - Special Education Needs.
Was asked: her views on whether people with disabilities have been denied their educational rights; if her attention has been drawn to any such matters; the submissions, if any, she has received in this regard; ...
Was asked: the issues, if any, which have been brought to her attention regarding children with special needs; her understanding of the current levels of supports and services for such children; and if she will ...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together.
Was asked: the proposals, if any, she has to develop educational services and supports for people with autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Children with autism have access to a range of educational support services. The precise nature of the support provided will depend on the severity of the condition in each individual case. In some c...
Written Answers. - Computerisation Programme.
Was asked: the current information technology and computer programmes in the school curriculum; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Primary schools draw up their own “plans of work” for the effective use of computers in the context of the overall curriculum. Information and communication technology (ICT) activities are integrated...
Written Answers. - Schools Capital Programme.
Was asked: the approved school capital programmes for 1997; the likely additional moneys which may be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The capital programme for first and second level schools includes provision for new starts in 1997, contractual commitments from previous years, final accounts, health and safety cases, purchase of si...
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Was asked: if she will review the case of a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath which seeks the retention of a seventh assistant in view of developmental needs and in view of the fact that the school h...
No decision has yet been taken regarding the staffing allocations for primary schools for the 1997-98 school year. However, it is anticipated that final decisions will be made very shortly, at which ...
Written Answers. - EU Funding
Was asked: the programmes for which she has not drawn down the available EU funding under equal opportunities and various subheadings therein; if she will name each subheading, the money available which has not ...
The programmes referred to by the Deputy are aided by the European Structural Funds under the Operational Programme for Human Resources Development. An indicative amount of aid per annum and a total ...
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Examination.
Was asked: the number of examination scripts in each subject in the 1996 leaving certificate examinations which on appeal had the results improved by one grade, two grades and three or more grades.
The information sought is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. My Department will make the information available to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Was asked: the number of 1996 leaving certificate candidates who on successful appeal of results issued received revised CAO or CAS offers.
The information sought by the Deputy is not available in my Department as the offer of places in third level is a matter for the Central Applications Office, Galway.
Written Answers. - Commission on School Accommodation.
Was asked: the procedures used to appoint staff and consultants and for the procurement of services for the Commission on School Accommodation.
Was asked: the direct costs of the Commission on School Accommodation for the period to 31 December 1996; the estimated cost of services and facilities given by her Department during this period; the cost of med...
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 115 and 116 together. The Commission on School Accomodation is currently staffed by four officers and is located in my Department's offices. Two members of staff ha...
Written Answers. - Junior Certificate Examination.
Was asked: the roles and responsibilities she exercised in respect of the 1996 junior certificate examinations.
In 1996, as in every year since the establishment of the junior certificate examination, my Department carried out the full range of activities associated with the running of the examination.
Was asked: the observations, if any, she has made on the distribution of grades in the 1996 junior certificate examinations in science and Gaeilge; and the directives, if any, she has in respect of these subject...
The distribution of the grades in the 1996 junior certificate examination in science and Gaeilge was broadly similar to that in the previous four years since the new syllabi were introduced in 1992. T...
Written Answers. - Assistant Examiner Appointments.
Was asked: the regulations, if any, she has made requiring those appointed as assistant examiners in history in the certificate examinations to have a university qualification in the subject.
Assistant examiners for the certificate examinations are appointed by the Examinations Branch of my Department on the recommendation of chief examiners. Assistant examiners in history are graduates i...
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Syllabus.
Was asked: if she has satisfied herself that adequate information and notification has been given to candidates preparing for examination on syllabi which are for first time examination in 1997.
In 1997 new revised syllabi in the following subjects will be examined for the first time in the leaving certificate — French, German, Italian, Spanish, accountancy and Irish, except for foundation le...
Written Answers. - Third Level Building Projects.
Was asked: the number of third level building projects currently at the planning stage; the institution involved for each project; the area of building to be provided for each project; the estimated building cos...
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department and I cannot justify assigning scarce staff resources to its compilation. If the Deputy has a query in respect of any par...
Written Answers. - Community Liaison Scheme.
Was asked: if she intends to sanction a post of a shared home-school-community liaison teacher under the scheme for disadvantaged areas for Scoil Mhuire Fatima (details supplied) and Scoil Mhuire Fatima (details...
I have no plans at present to include additional primary schools in the home-school-community liaison scheme. My capacity to allocate additional resources to this scheme in any year is determined by r...
Written Answers. - Teacher Appointments.
Was asked: if she has reconsidered her position in relation to the appointment of a teacher under the breaking the cycle scheme to St. Mary's on the Hill, Knocknaheeney, Cork; if so, if she will appoint such a t...
As I have previously indicated to the Deputy, the criteria under which schools were selected for inclusion in the breaking the cycle initiated and the selection process itself, were devised and carrie...
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.
Was asked: if St. Marie's of the Isle national school, Cork, will be granted disadvantaged status; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: when Sunday's Well boys national school, Strawberry Hill, Cork, will be granted a concessionary post under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: if she will grant disadvantaged status to Sunday's Well girls national school, Strawberry Hill, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 127 and 129 together. I have no plans at present to extend disadvantaged area status to additional primary schools.
Written Answers. - Computerisation Programme.
Was asked: the status of an application for funding for computers for St. Patrick's national school, Gardiner's Hill, Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Up to now there has been no funding available specifically for the purchase of computers by primary schools. Therefore, there was no provision whereby an application in respect of St. Patrick's natio...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the current position regarding an application for a school hall by Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, County Cork; her views on whether this facility is both necessary and urgent; and when funding...
At present, I am not in a position to provide grant-aid towards a school hall at Scoil An Spioraid Naoimh, Bishopstown, County Cork. While I am anxious to extend the provision of general purpose facil...
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