Hanafin, MaryTuesday, 6 March 2007 |
Dáil Eireann Debate
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Order of Business.
How does Deputy Gormley know how many days are left?
Written Answers - Irish Sign Language.
Was asked: if the Government will recognise Irish sign language as an official sign language; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
As the Deputy will be aware, Section 2 of the Official Languages Act 2003 states that “the official languages” of the State are (a) the Irish language (being the national language and the first offici...
Written Answers - Pension Provisions.
Was asked: if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
General leave arrangements are a matter for boards of management of schools to decide, within limits agreed under the conciliation scheme for teachers or as provided for by statute. There is no provi...
Written Answers - School Transport.
Was asked: if her Department has carried out a study as to the compliance rate by students both primary and post primary in terms of wearing their seat belts on school buses; and her plans to put closed circuit...
Written Answers - Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile.
Was asked: cathain a chuirfidh sí ant-airgead ar fáil chun foirgneamh nua scoile a thógáil do Ghaelscoil Chloich na Coillte, Contae Chorcaí; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh.
Tá suíomh oiriúnach faighte ag Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí thar ceann mo Roinnse don tionscadal seo. Tá an líon foirne fadtéarmach réamh-mheasta, ar a mbeidh riachtanais chóiríochta na scoile bunaithe...
Written Answers - School Accommodation.
Was asked: the status of an application for additional and ancillary accommodation by a primary school (details supplied) in County Westmeath; her views on whether same is required in view of the increased numb...
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which he refers is among the list of successful applicants published yesterday that will receive capital funding under the Small Schools Scheme (SS...
Written Answers - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Was asked: the action she is taking to reduce class sizes in primary schools at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the maximum class size in primary schools at a location (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the national target for class size in primary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 to 456, inclusive, together. Information in relation to class sizes is provided in the annual census of primary schools. The census for the current school-year (2...
Written Answers - Physical Education Facilities.
Was asked: further to the proposed new sports hall at a school (details supplied) in County Mayo, the amount allocated to the project in 2007; and the proposed commencement and completion dates of this project....
The project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 4/5 (Detailed Design/Bill of Quantities). The Building Unit of my Department recently received a submission from County Mayo VEC regarding ...
Written Answers - Third Level Fees.
Was asked: if she will provide tax relief on registration fees paid by persons who do not qualify for the grant to attend third level.
Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, provides tax relief for eligible persons, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher ...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if she will include a school (details supplied) in County Cork in the revised Book of Estimates.
A suitable site has been acquired by the Office of Public Works on behalf of my Department for this project. The long term projected staffing, on which the accommodation needs will be based, has been...
Written Answers - Site Acquisitions.
Was asked: when she expects the Chief State Solicitor to complete deliberations on the transfer of title for the proposed site for a school (details supplied) in County Meath in view of the ongoing pressure on ...
The Chief State Solicitor’s Office is currently examining title to the property in question and is in consultation with Counsel on the matter. I am not in a position at the present time to indicate w...
Written Answers - School Accommodation.
Was asked: the position regarding the provision of extra classroom accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Galway, which is currently catering for 358 pupils many of them in very bad conditioned ...
An application was submitted by the school referred to by the Deputy under the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007. On Monday, 5 March 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding unde...
Written Answers - Site Acquisitions.
Was asked: the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Galway; the steps her Department have taken in the acquiring of a site for the building of a new school for the school which is catering f...
The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works (OPW) which acts on my behalf in the acquisition of sites generally has been requested to source a site for the school in question. On fo...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: if she will intervene to ensure that persons (details supplied) in County Kerry will be assisted in respect of their speech and learning difficulties arising from recent diagnosis; and if she will ma...
The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education, through the local special educational needs organiser (SENO), is responsible for processing applications from schools for spec...
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.
Was asked: the special rate of maintenance grant available to applicants of HEA grants; the qualifying criteria therefore; if the number of dependants in the parents family is taken into account; and if not, th...
For the purpose of replying to this question I understand the Deputy is referring to grants under the HEG Scheme — the Higher Education Grant Scheme. The Special Rate of Maintenance Grant is availabl...
Written Answers - Physical Education Facilities.
Was asked: if a school (details supplied) in County Cork is currently being considered for funding for a general purpose area under the capital programme as per its application of 2003.
The school referred to by the Deputy has an application with my Department for major capital funding for a PE Hall. This project has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation crite...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the reason she has not included a proposed school (details supplied) in County Dublin in the permanent school building programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The proposed new 24 classroom school referred to by the Deputy was listed in my announcement of 13th January 2006 as a project to progress through architectural planning. The project is currently at a...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was refused access for a reader for their leaving certificate when one was provided for their junior certificate; and if she will make a state...
The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations, including organising the holding of examinations and determining proced...
Written Answers - School Discipline.
Was asked: the number of schools in Clondalkin and Lucan that applied to the National Behaviour Support Service for assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
A total of 124 of 742 schools applied to the National behaviour Support Service (NBSS) for assistance. Of these, 50 schools were identified to receive support as part of a phased roll-out of activity....
Written Answers - Physical Education Facilities.
Was asked: the budget spent on the provision of facilities and the promotion of physical education by her Department in primary schools here in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, the Deputy can be assured that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school envir...
Written Answers - School Accommodation.
Was asked: when extra classroom accommodation at a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be taken in charge by her Department.
The management authority of the school to which the Deputy refers made an application in August 2000 for two additional classrooms, a General Purpose Room and appropriate ancillary accommodation for a...
Written Answers - Adult Education.
Was asked: her proposals to ensure that a centre (details supplied) in County Waterford can continue all their classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: when the technical inspection of a school (details supplied) will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: when the technical inspection of a school (details supplied) will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together. A technical inspection of the schools referred to by the Deputy took place on Monday 5 March 2007. When the technical reports have been complete...
Written Answers - State Examinations.
Was asked: if there is a system of waiver available to a student (details supplied) in County Kildare in relation to their repeat arts exam; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Special fees for repeat Leaving Certificate candidates were introduced in 1987 on the basis that it is not unreasonable to expect those who have already benefited from the normal course of second leve...
Was asked: the criteria used to determine exam fees; the reason repeat examinations are 150% higher than original examinations; the percentage of students that are repeating their exams; if the percentage is on...
Was asked: the reason the State Examinations Commission increases the fee for a student repeating a subject or the leaving certificate in total; her plans to change this position; the research her Department ha...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 475 and 476 together. Examination fees generally cover only a fraction of the cost of running the examinations. The costs associated with the certificate examinations...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the overcrowding at a school (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that the school board has made repeated applic...
An application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The assessment of the long-term projected staffing, on which the s...
Written Answers - Schools Refurbishment.
Was asked: the number of radon remediation projects that have been funded in schools over the past two years, broken down on a county basis.
The details requested by the Deputy are not readily available by my Department, however funding of approximately €6m has been provided to schools under the Radon Remediation Programme to date. My Depa...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: when a decision will be made regarding the awarding of home tuition to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; the reason for the delay in same; and if her attention has been drawn to the fact ...
I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently sanctioned home tuition for the pupil in question and a letter to this effect has issued to the family. The reason for the delay is th...
Written Answers - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Was asked: when she expects to be able to supply information on the size of classes in primary schools for 2007; the number of schools that have not yet returned this information to her Department which was due...
As at 2nd March, 3,267 national schools had returned a complete set of enrolment forms and 1,249 of these had been processed and fully entered on the Database for Primary School enrolment. The process...
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.
Was asked: if she will publish a report which she asked the National Council for Special Education to compile on the most appropriate educational provision for children with autism represented by the Irish Auti...
I wish to advise the Deputy that the report to which she refers is an internal report prepared for my Department by the National Council for Special Education. This report was not intended for publica...
Written Answers - School Management.
Was asked: if she or her Department has received correspondence from the board of management of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in relation to parents subsidising the running costs of the school; ...
I can confirm that I have recently received correspondence on this issue from the Board of Management of the school referred to by the Deputy and a response will issue shortly to the board from my Dep...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: if funding has been put in place for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo.
An application was received in the Department, under the Small Schools Scheme 2007, from the school referred to by the Deputy. On 5 March 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding un...
Was asked: if she will report on a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and the progress made in getting a contractor to do the work.
The application for capital funding towards the provision of an extension to the school referred to by the Deputy has been assessed and the long term projected staffing, on which accommodation needs w...
Written Answers - Site Acquisitions.
Was asked: the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Cork; if the land has been acquired; and the length of time it will take to build.
A site to facilitate the replacement of the school in question has been secured by the relevant managerial authorities. The registration of title to the site is currently in progress. Funding for the...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the position of the proposed new 16 classroom Gaelscoil at Ballyshane, Midleton; when the project will start; and when it will be completed.
This building project is an initiative lead by the school authorities which entails a local developer building a 16 classroom school on land owned by the developer at no cost to the school or the Depa...
Written Answers - Third Level Institutions.
Was asked: the number of higher diploma places available in third level institutions; the budget allocated for the delivery of the higher diploma in education in third-level institutions; and if she will make a...
I wish to inform the Deputy that in four of the third level institutions running the Higher Diploma in Education the title of the course is “Post Graduate Diploma in Education”, while in the Universit...
Written Answers - Adult Education.
Was asked: the funds which have been allocated to the proposed family literacy project included in the DEIS action plan; if targets have been set for the project; the way they will be measured; when the project...
Written Answers - Educational Disadvantage.
Was asked: the amount spent on specific supports addressing educational disadvantage in 2006 with a breakdown of the costs for each support; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
A key focus of the Government’s education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadva...
Written Answers - School Staffing.
Was asked: the projected cost of removing the cap on the number of English language support teachers for newcomer children to which schools will now be entitled; the way language support teachers will be alloca...
The Deputy will be aware that recently I announced the schools which are to benefit from the 200 extra language support posts provided for in the 2007 Estimates. These extra 200 posts will bring the ...
Was asked: the number of primary schools with access to a qualified physical education teacher; the number of secondary schools which employ at least one qualified PE teacher; the number of primary schools that...
The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of PE teachers employed in second level schools is not readily available within my Department. Teacher allocations for second level sc...
Written Answers - Psychological Service.
Was asked: the cost of employing one additional educational psychologist to work in the National Educational Psychological Service; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I can inform the Deputy that the pay-scale for an entry grade educational psychologist is in the range of €56,532-€80,263 (8 point scale) depending on the previous experience of the candidate. This pa...
Written Answers - Adult Education.
Was asked: the projected cost of the 7000 extra adult literacy places within the VEC sector as promised in Towards 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the position regarding the application by a school (details supplied) in County Galway who have submitted a revised application to her Department in 2006 for a significant school expansion and larger...
An application for an extension has been received from the school to which the Deputy refers. An assessment of the long-term projected staffing, on which the schools accommodation needs are based is c...
Written Answers - Decentralisation Programme.
Was asked: when the proposed decentralised building for her Department will commence in Athlone; the duration of time it will take to complete the building; when staff will be recruited to work in the new build...
The construction contract for the new building in Athlone is a matter for the OPW but I understand that they expect that construction will begin shortly. My Department has been making arrangements to ...
Written Answers - Higher Education Grants.
Was asked: if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and granted the third level maintenance grant.
The Maintenance Grant Scheme for Students attending Post Leaving Certificate courses is administered by the Vocational Education Committees on behalf of my Department. The application for grant assist...
Written Answers - Teachers’ Remuneration.
Was asked: the agreement reached on salary scales for graduates of a college (details supplied) should they be appointed to a post as a primary teacher in relation to the recent meeting of the Teacher’s Concili...
Was asked: if she will supply comparative salary scale figures and details outlining the remuneration typically expected by graduates of a college (details supplied), who work as primary school teachers, compar...
I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together. All qualified primary teachers are paid on the common basic scale for teachers. New teachers who complete a three year full-time recognised prima...
Written Answers - Schools Building Projects.
Was asked: the position regarding the refurbishment and extension to a school (details supplied) County Donegal.
On 5 March 2007, I announced details of the schools to receive funding under the Small Schools Scheme 2007. The application from the school to which the Deputy refers was successful and officials fro...
Written Answers - School Accommodation.
Was asked: if she will reassure the parents of the children of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15 that the school will continue to operate at its site in Mulhuddart village and that she has no plans to tr...
The Department is in receipt of proposals from the Board of Management of the school to which the Deputy refers in relation to the future development of the school. In considering these proposals, fu...
Written Answers - School Libraries.
Was asked: the funds allocated for library facilities in disadvantaged schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Was asked: the funds allocated by her Department for school libraries in primary and secondary schools respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. At primary level it is a matter for each Local Authority to provide a library service for schools in its area. While my Department has no involve...
Written Answers - Pupil-Teacher Ratio.
Was asked: if her attention has been drawn to the significantly high pupil teacher ratio at a primary school (detail supplied) in County Longford; if in this context she will allocate additional teaching staff ...
The mainstream staffing of a primary school is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on 30 September of the previous year. The number of mainstream posts is determined by reference t...
Written Answers - Educational Disadvantage.
Was asked: the criteria used to determine the reason two county Clare secondary schools were removed from the DEIS scheme; and if in view of on-going underfunding of education she will ensure that funding of th...
DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated School S...
| Last Updated: 03/11/2010 19:39:47 |
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