Results 8,641-8,660 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to confirm that my Department has received an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. The application is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including charging and collecting fees for examinations and applying such monies to the carrying out of its functions. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In light of current competing demands on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In light of current competing demands on...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 1 Submission (Site Report/Suitability and Initial Sketch Scheme). Due to the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of school accommodation to meet increasing...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There are at present 33 whole-time equivalent posts in Léargas, together with an additional 6 posts in the National Centre for Guidance in Education (NCGE), which operates under the aegis of Léargas. This gives a total provision for these bodies under existing public sector numbers limits of 39 posts. The staffing of Léargas and of the NCGE is subject to the operation of the general...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is examining the long term projected pupils levels for the school referred to by the Deputy in the context of correspondance provided by the school authorities. As outlined in the Five Year Plan, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. The Deputy will appreciate that the primary...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) is the statutory agency which can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The NEWB may be able to offer assistance and advice on securing a school placement within the pupil's area. The contact details for the NEWB are National Educational Welfare Board, 16-22 Green Street, Dublin 7, telephone...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In light of current competing demands on...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (12 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The gross pay allocation for Vote 26: Education and Skills included in the 2012 Revised Estimates Volume is €5.351 billion. Front line staff in the Education Sector are regarded as comprising teachers and Special Needs Assistants in first and second level schools, as well as academic staff in third level colleges and institutions. A full breakdown of the 2012 overall pay allocation for my...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Rigorously constructed surveys of attainment in English reading and mathematics have been carried out since the 1970s. The 2009 National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading, which are the most recent in this series of national assessments, provide baseline data for future national assessments in mathematics and English reading at second and sixth class but are not directly...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not have any plans at present to issue a circular on the teaching of English in Gaeltacht schools specifically. My Department issued a Circular (56/2011) to primary schools regarding the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in November 2011 and this may be accessed on the website of my Department. This circular to primary schools covered issues relating to time...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. In order for an applicant whose reckonable income is from self employment/farming to be assessed for a student grant, Article 22 (1) of the Student Grant Scheme 2011 stipulates that the following documentary evidence listed in Schedule 5 is required: 1. Copy of accounts (that is, trading...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. They have in place criteria for reasonable accommodation including an independent appeals system. All applications for reasonable accommodations are considered in light of a published Framework of Principles as set out by the Expert Advisory Group on examinations....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: School management authorities and the INTO have developed a specific procedure to address staff relations difficulties or conflicts which is contained in a booklet entitled Working Together. This procedure includes a mediation facility whereby a trained mediator from the INTO/management panel may work with a staff in order to achieve a framework to address and resolve the issues of...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, in June of last year I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing demographics. This announcement included a proposal to establish a new post-primary school to serve the area referred to by the Deputy. In that regard, my Department is working with the Local Authority to identify a...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been in contact with the school authority regarding the matter to which he refers and is awaiting a response from the school on the queries raised.

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 73 small primary schools were originally due to lose a classroom teacher in September 2012 as a result of the budget measure to increase the relevant pupil thresholds. The Staffing Appeals Board considered appeals from any of the 73 schools that could show that their projected enrolments for September 2012 were sufficient to allow them retain their classroom teacher over the longer term. 35...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 150 together. The schools referred to by the Deputies have an application with my Department for capital funding for a major school project. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming...