Woods, Michael J.Thursday, 29 June 2000 |
Dáil Eireann Debate
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Local Government (No. 2) Bill, 2000: Committee and Remaining Stages.
I wish to be associated with the tributes to the late Dr. Tom Barrington. Question put and agreed to.
Adjournment Debate. - Special Educational Needs.
I am pleased to have this opportunity to assure the Deputy and the House of my commitment to ensuring that the special educational needs of all children with disabilities within the education system a...
Written Answers. - National Qualifications Authority.
Was asked: if he will appoint a Waterford person to the Further Education and Training Awards Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the plans he has to establish the Further Education and Training Awards Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: if he will appoint a Waterford person to the Further Education and Training Awards Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 241, 262 and 263 together. In January last, the setting up of a designate National Qualifications Authority of Ireland was announced and Mr. Richard Langford was appoi...
Was asked: if he will appoint a Waterford person to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the plans he has to establish the Higher Education and Training Awards Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: Science if he will appoint a Waterford person to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 264 and 265 together. In January last, the setting up of a designate National Qualifications Authority of Ireland was announced and Mr. Richard Langford was appoi...
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
Was asked: the procedures that should be followed by a parent who suspects their child suffers from dyslexia in order to have their child assessed; if there is a long waiting time for such assessment; and if he ...
Pending the expansion of the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, a working group of representatives from NEPS and the Department of Health and Children has been established to put proced...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if he will provide additional accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Westmeath which is required in order to provide accommodation for remedial teaching and also due to the increase i...
My Department's planning and building unit will be pleased to consider an application from the management authorities of the school in question for additional accommodation.
Was asked: the current status of an application for a new school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; if the plans have been completed and furnished to the relevant parties; and if he will make a statement on...
Architectural planning for a project at the school in question is proceeding as quickly as possible having regard to the large number of school building projects on hand within my Department. The Depu...
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: the number of classroom assistants who have been allocated to assist children with special needs; and if he will classify these by category of special need (details supplied) to which they are caterin...
My Department has sanctioned a total of 1,040 full-time special needs assistants and a further 148 post equivalents in part-time hours, to cater for children with special needs. The posts in question ...
Was asked: the number of children with specific speech and language disorders who are currently receiving education; the number who are being provided with a tailored special class providing for such needs; and ...
My Department does not have details on the number of pupils with specific speech and language disorders in the education system. However, there are currently 41 special classes in place in 33 primary ...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: the plans he has to resolve the problems of school transport to Seamount college, Kinvara, County Galway for families who wish to send their children to this college from the Gort area; if he will app...
The position generally is that my Department is responsible for ensuring that requests for school transport do not unreasonably threaten the viability of existing schools to which parents, teachers an...
Written Answers. - School Accommodation.
Was asked: when the schedule of accommodation for Pobalscoil Chloch Cheannfhaola, an Fál Carrach, Contae Dhún na nGall, will be made available to the school authorities.
An application has been received from the management authority of Pobalscoil Chloch Cheannfhaola for the provision of additional accommodation at the school. My Department's planning unit is currently...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the current position regarding the proposed extension to Knockea national school, Ballyneety, County Limerick, for which approval was given for architectural planning to commence in August 1999 and wh...
Architectural planning for an extension at Knockea national school, Ballyneety, County Limerick, is proceeding as quickly as possible having regard to the large number of school building projects on h...
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Was asked: the current position in relation to having a special needs assistant appointed to a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department's inspectorate has been requested to investigate the need for child care support at the school in question. As soon as the inspector's report is received and considered, my Department wi...
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: if he will make an urgent decision on an application on behalf of a number of pupils with special needs in a school (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware of the application mentioned by the Deputy. My Department's inspectorate is investigating this application. When this investigation is completed a decision will be made in the case.
Written Answers. - State Examinations.
Was asked: the plans he has in place to make allowances for the correction of the leaving certificate 2000 biology higher level paper in view of the fact that most students had studied human biology and the exam...
There is a well established procedure whereby any concerns held by interested parties in relation to the content of any of the question papers at the certificate examinations are considered as part of...
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Was asked: the current position in relation to a special needs post for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. The application for special needs assistant support for this school is currently being investigated by my Department's inspectorate. As soon as the in...
Was asked: when a decision will be made on an application for a classroom assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
I am aware of the special needs of the pupil referred to by the Deputy. My Department's inspectorate is currently investigating the need for childcare support for this pupil.
Written Answers. - School Programme.
Was asked: if he will provide details on the 30 post primary schools involved from September 2000 in the pilot project for the Living with Change and Loss programme targeted at secondary school students and desi...
The 30 post-primary schools which will take part in piloting the Living with Change and Loss programme have not yet been selected. All second level schools have been notified with details of the progr...
Written Answers. - School Accommodation.
Was asked: if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 16 May 2000, he will list the reserved sites for future provision of primary and post-primary schools in the greater Lucan area; the current position o...
The position in relation to my Department's assessment of school provision needs in the Lucan area is set out in my reply to Question No. 308 of 16 May 2000, which was tabled by the Deputy. In that r...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if he will confirm a decision in principle to acquire a site in Lucan, County Dublin, for a new unit for 12 autistic children to operate under the aegis of the Lucan Educate Together national school; ...
My Department is at present examining how best the autistic unit in question can be accommodated and will be in contact with the authorities of the Lucan Educate Together national school as soon as po...
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Was asked: if he will allow a three teacher school (details supplied) in County Limerick retain its third teacher as it has two children with difficulty, one who is totally blind and another suffering from Atten...
The staffing of a primary school for a particular year is determined by reference to the number of pupils enrolled in the school on 30 September of the previous year. The actual number of mainstream p...
Was asked: if a resource teacher will be supplied in September 2000 to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick who commences at Pallaskenry national school, Limerick.
I am aware of the pupil referred to by the Deputy. My Department's inspectorate is currently investigating the need for resource teaching support for the pupil in question. Upon receipt of the inspect...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: if he will extend the school transport service to a school (details supplied) in County Carlow to facilitate seven children from the Graiguenamanagh area.
My Department has requested a full report from Bus Éireann concerning an extension of the school transport service referred to by the Deputy. On receipt of this report, the Deputy will be advised of t...
Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.
Was asked: if he will report on the condition of Kyle national school in County Cork; the funding, if any, that has been made available or will be made available in order to repair or replace the school; the pla...
My Department has received an application for improved accommodation from the management authorities of Kyle national school, County Cork. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that my Department has a...
Was asked: the position regarding proposed refurbishments at Killeagh national school in County Cork; when he expects these refurbishments to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department has received an application for refurbishment works from the management authorities of Killeagh national school, County Cork. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that my Department has ...
Written Answers. - Disadvantaged Status.
Was asked: if he will grant disadvantage status to a school (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will already be aware, I have set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority and will be bringing forward proposals for a major initiative to address the needs of pupils who ...
Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Was asked: if he will retain the present teacher quota in a school (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy is aware the staffing of primary schools is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous school year. This is in accordance with guidelines agre...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if he will respond to the application from the board of management of Lisaniska national school, Foxford, County Mayo, for a general purpose room, remedial room and principal's office, the latter two ...
My Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the management authorities of Lisaniska national school, Foxford, County Mayo. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that my ...
Written Answers. - Schools Recognition.
Was asked: if he will report on the application from Swords Educate Together, County Dublin, in respect of its intention to set up a school in Swords, County Dublin; if he will agree to give permanent recognitio...
A formal application for the recognition of a multi-denominational school in Swords, County Dublin, was submitted to my Department earlier this year. This application was being processed in my Departm...
Written Answers. - Autism Services.
Was asked: the number of children under 18 years of age in the Waterford constituency who have been diagnosed as having autism and are known to his Department; the level of service being provided in each case; a...
Was asked: the proposals he has to improve the level of service provided to people with autism in the Waterford constituency; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together. My Department does not have precise information on the total number of pupils in Waterford who have been diagnosed as having autism.
Written Answers. - Departmental Appointments.
Was asked: the names and number of appointees to State agencies, bodies or boards made by him in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by officials in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Written Answers. - Literacy Levels.
Was asked: if he has published the full results of the recent survey of reading standards in primary school; if not, the reason for the delay in this regard; and if he will arrange, in future, that all such repo...
I have not published the full results of the recent survey of reading standards in primary school because they have not yet been received from the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra. When I have ...
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: if his attention has been drawn to the situation regarding the coverage of the remedial teaching service in the national school at Graiguecullen on the Laois/Carlow border; and if he will make a state...
Since September 1999 the remedial teaching service has been extended to all primary schools with a pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with lower pupil-teacher ratios may also seek remedial ...
Written Answers. - School Transport.
Was asked: if he will provide school transport for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo from their homes, particularly as one child will submit medical evidence of her needs.
As a rule, post-primary school transport routes are planned so that, as far as possible, no eligible child will have more than three miles to travel to a pick-up point. Pupils living off the main rout...
Written Answers. - Pilot Projects.
Was asked: the pilot projects in operation under the auspices of his Department; and if he will report on the stage of each of these.
The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by officials in my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.
Was asked: the number of students who left the education system during the 1998/99 school year; the breakdown of these figures for each age from 12 to 18 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. However, I have asked my officials to contact the Deputy to establish the information which may be of most value to her ...
Written Answers. - School Discipline.
Was asked: the average number of students who are on suspension on any one day in schools; and the steps he is taking to deal with this problem.
As matters stand there are no formalised reporting arrangements covering suspensions and this makes it difficult to estimate the full extent of the problem with any precision. School managerial author...
Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.
Was asked: the number of pupils who failed to transfer from primary to second-level school in 1999; the breakdown of these number on a county by country basis; and the steps if any which were taken to encourage ...
My Department is currently in the process of planning to extend the range of data gathered as part of the development of a comprehensive database on individual primary school pupils. The new database ...
Written Answers. - Secretarial and Caretaking Services.
Was asked: if his Department keeps a record of the number of schools who rely on CE schemes for the purpose of caretaking or secretarial staff; if so, the number or proportion of schools who fall into this categ...
As responsibility for the operation of the community employment schemes in schools rests with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, my Department does not have a record of the number of ...
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
Was asked: if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 25 of 8 June 2000, he will outline the basis on which he will be spending £194 million over three years while, at the same time, he refuses to extend the Brea...
There have been various initiatives put in place over the years intended to tackle educational disadvantage. In general, they have been limited and have not achieved, or sought to achieve, an impact t...
Written Answers. - Third Level Education.
Was asked: the information, if any, which is gathered in relation to the participation of different socio-economic groups in third level education; the manner in which this information is gathered; the current p...
Information in relation to the participation of different socio-economic groups in third-level education is not available on a current basis. However, the fourth in the series of national surveys of e...
Written Answers. - Drugs Task Forces.
Was asked: if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 4 of 8 June 2000, he has reconsidered the issue of the representation of his Department on the local drugs task force; if he will now arrange for a senior lev...
In my reply of 8 June 2000 to the Deputy I set out in full the position of my Department in relation to the issue of representation by it on local drugs task forces and I confirmed that the education ...
Written Answers. - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Was asked: the number of schools that will lose teachers by the application of the pupil-teacher ratio; and the number of schools for each county and each Dublin postal district.
The staffing allocation to schools for a particular school year is determined by the enrolment at the end of September of the preceding year. The teaching posts arising from the demographic dividend a...
Was asked: the number of schools in communities served by area partnerships that will lose teachers under the application of the pupil-teacher ratio; and if he has satisfied himself that his Department has met i...
Was asked: if, pending the current Government review of the national drugs strategy, he will defer the loss of teachers in national schools in drugs task force areas.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 287 and 295 together.
Was asked: the way in which principals, parents and teachers can make submissions to his Department regarding the impact a loss in teachers under the application of the pupil-teacher ratio will have on their wor...
It is open to a principal, a parent or a teacher to forward correspondence concerning the loss of a teaching post for my personal attention or for the attention of officials of my Department. The cont...
Was asked: if an inspector of his Department will visit each school in the Dáil constituency of Dublin South Central that will lose teachers under the application of the pupil-teacher ratio so that his Departmen...
I regret that, owing to my heavy work schedule and the work commitments of my officials, it is not possible to arrange visits to the schools in the constituency of Dublin South Central as proposed by ...
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
Was asked: if he will report on the social inclusion unit within his Department including details on its programme of work, its budget and its staff complement.
The social inclusion unit was established in December 1998 to develop and co-ordinate my Department's policies and programmes aimed at tackling educational disadvantage and social exclusion. The wide-...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: when tenders will be invited for the required extension to Scoil Dara post primary school, Kilcock, County Kildare; the likely timeframe for construction; the capital available; and if he will make a ...
My Department's planning and building unit requested the management authority of Scoil Dara to proceed to stage 4/5, – detail design-bill of quantities – of the architectural planning process in Marc...
Was asked: if his Department's planning unit have completed their review of the long-term projected enrolments for Maynooth post-primary school, County Kildare; if he is now in a position to authorise the extens...
A request has been received in my Department from County Kildare Vocational Education Committee seeking an increase to 900 in the number of pupil places to be provided at Maynooth post-primary school....
Written Answers. - Psychological Service.
Was asked: if he is now in a position to sanction the appointment of psychologists to cover the remainder of the primary schools in north County Kildare; if not, when the announcements will be made; and if he wi...
There are, currently, three national educational psychological service – NEPS – psychologists assigned to County Kildare. The Civil Service and Local Appointments Commission has now completed the proc...
Written Answers. - Educational Disadvantage.
Was asked: if, in his new plan to provide additional supports in disadvantaged national schools in September 2000, he will make specific provision for schools in drugs task force areas.
As the Deputy may be aware, I have set the tackling of educational disadvantage as a priority and will be bringing forward proposals for a major initiative to address the needs of pupils who are encou...
Written Answers. - Research and Development.
Was asked: his views on the decline of £8 million in his Department's spending on research and development revealed in the Forfás review of spending on science and technology 1999 (Table 2).
The Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund Act, 1997, facilitated the payment by Government of Exchequer moneys totalling over £280 million into the fund over a three year period 199...
Was asked: if he will make a statement on the finding that State spending on research and development at third level in 1999 of £95.9 million represents a substantially higher level than the seven year projectio...
The figure of £95.9 million referred to by the Deputy represents expenditure on research and development in science and technology departments in third level institutions. This figure includes both Ex...
Was asked: the total spending in 1998 and 1999 by his Department, or agencies funded by it, on grants, fellowships or bursaries for individual research projects in third level institutions.
Was asked: the total number of post-graduate students in research projects of post-graduate studentships and of post-doctoral fellowships funded by his Department in each of the past years 1998 and 1999.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 298 and 299 together.
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Subjects.
Was asked: the total number of schools at second level which offer all three main science subjects; the number which do not offer (i) physics, (ii) chemistry and (iii) biology; and if he will outline this inform...
The following is the information requested by the Deputy: Based on 1998-99 enrolments, the total number of schools at second level offering all three main science subjects, and the numbers of schools ...
Written Answers. - Legal Actions.
Was asked: the number of legal actions entered into by the Department within the past 12 months; the number that are either successful, failed or ongoing; the total cost of these actions; the number of barrister...
The initiation of legal actions by me as Minister for Education and Science is an uncommon event and where it does arise it is more likely in the context of an appeal against a decision where the Mini...
Written Answers. - Education Funding.
Was asked: the plans he has to equalise spending on the grounds of fairness and equity in view of the wide disparity of funding per pupils in each of the education sectors; and if he will make a statement on the...
One of my main priorities is to ensure that all levels of the education sector have adequate resources, including financial resources, to enable schools and colleges to effectively deliver quality ed...
Written Answers. - Teacher-Counsellor Project.
Was asked: the plans, if any, he has in relation to the teacher-counsellor service.
The teacher-counsellor project was initiated in 1995 in a number of schools in the Tallaght-Clondalkin area and in Dublin's north inner city. Teacher posts were assigned to individual schools or were ...
Written Answers. - Remedial Teaching Service.
Was asked: the role of the remedial teachers at second level; the training which is provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The learning support teacher – remedial teacher – at second level constitutes an extra teaching resource for a school to strengthen its team effort in making provision for students having learning dif...
Was asked: if he will improve the level of remedial service to a school (details supplied) in County Cork.
In September 1999 the remedial teaching service was extended to all primary schools with a pupil-teacher ratio of 10:1 or above. Schools with lower pupil-teacher ratios were advised that they could se...
Written Answers. - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the plans he has for the provision of a new national school in the parish of Donabate to meet the school-going population needs post-2002, in view of the projected increase in the population; and if h...
My Department is aware of the anticipated growth in population in the Donabate-Portrane area of north County Dublin, owing to housing developments in that general area. In this context, the planning s...
Written Answers. - School Staffing.
Was asked: if he will respond favourably to the application from Rush national school for a resource teacher from September 2000 to enable a dyslexic-SLD class to be formed and thereby meet the needs of the stud...
I am aware of the application in question.
Written Answers. - Schools Refurbishment.
Was asked: the position with regard to the plans for the refurbishment of Coláiste Einde, Salthill, County Galway; if it is proposed to refurbish the old building; if there are plans for a new school; and if he ...
It is planned to provide entirely new accommodation for the student community of Coláiste Einde. This decision was taken because the estimated cost of refurbishing the existing accommodation, when com...
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