Results 5,541-5,560 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am anxious to ensure that progress continues to be made in the work of bringing about a reduction in the number of VECs. To that end I will be considering the matter raised by the Deputy in the coming period, in tandem with other issues that have been the subject of a recently concluded consultation process with the relevant stakeholders. Specifically, these issues are: to determine the HQ...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied to be...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The standardisation of the staffing schedule for Gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally is one of a number of measures in Budget 2011 to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given our budgetary situation it is not possible to reverse these changes. This change will result in a reduction of the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for the works as specified under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Applications for funding under the scheme are currently being processed in my Department, as outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the Scheme, and the school authority will be notified of the decision on the application shortly.

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The new Programme for Government contains commitments in relation to the improvement of literacy levels in two key areas. As part of its Labour Market Policy, the Government will make literacy and basic workplace skills a national priority, with literacy training incorporated into a wider variety of further education and training programmes. The Government will also address the widespread...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Class size data for primary schools is compiled by my Department on an annual basis and is available on the Department's website. The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools irrespective of what county they are in. School authorities are advised in the staffing schedule to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a school building project to provide an extension. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the project for this school has been assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The new post primary school to be provided in Ballinamore, County Leitrim is one of eight schools which were approved for inclusion in the 3rd bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle was handed over to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in July 2010 to commence the tender procurement process. This process is ongoing and a number of consultation...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Report of the Expert Group called for the introduction of bonus points for higher level mathematics in the Leaving Certificate. I am pleased to say that all third level institutions have collectively decided to operate a bonus points scheme for higher level mathematics for a four year trial period from 2012 to 2015 with a review in 2014. A bonus of 25 points will be allocated to...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Project Maths began in all second level schools in September 2010 for first year students in Junior and Leaving Certificate. The initiative builds on the experiences of 24 project schools which began the programme in 2008. Project Maths is being implemented on a phased basis over a three period across 5 strands of mathematics as follows:- Phase 1: Strand 1 - Statistics and Probability +...

Written Answers — Ceapachán Múinteorí: Ceapachán Múinteorí (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Is mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta nach gcoinníonn an Roinni staitisticí/eolas ar féidir teacht orthu go héasca faoin líon múinteoirí a ceapadh agus cáilíocht TGMI acu. Níl múinteoirí i dteideal liúntas ar bith as cáilíocht den saghas sin a bheith ina seilbh. Léiríonn an tábla thíos na torthaí a fuair múinteoirí a sheas an scrúdú don Teastas Gaeilge do...

Written Answers — Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge: Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá fúm ceisteanna 50 agus 51 a thógáil le chéile. Foilsíonn mo Roinnse liosta de na hiarbhunscoileanna uile sa tír ar a suíomh gréasáin www.education.ie. Tá iarbhunscoileanna a sholathair oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge i 2009/2010 do chuid dá ndaltaí nó dóibh go léir aicmighe mar "1" faoi cholún 5 ar an liosta seo. Tá an liosta de an hiarbhunscoileannna a bhfuil rangú...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Labour Market Activation Fund was launched in March 2010 in order to support the creation of training and education programmes for specific priority groups among the unemployed. It is intended that the €32 million Fund will enable the provision of education and training programmes for up to 12,000 unemployed people. All funded programmes must be completed by 30th June 2011. I can...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied to be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts takes place in the context of the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland and the Public Service Agreement 2010/2014. It is necessary for my Department to exercise additional control and reporting measures this year to ensure that the numbers of teachers...

Written Answers — Schools Accommodation: Schools Accommodation (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has recently applied to my Department seeking funding to provide additional accommodation. This application is currently being assessed and officials in my Department will convey a decision on the application to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Capitation Grants: Capitation Grants (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department provides funding to secondary schools by way of per capita grants, which affords schools considerable flexibility in the use of these resources to cater for the needs of their pupils. My Department provided capitation funding in the sum of €186,477.25 to the school in question in respect of recognised enrolments for the school year 2009/10. Capitation funding for schools...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied to be...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy applied to my Department for additional accommodation for resource teaching last October 2010 and I am pleased to advise that in November 2010 the school was approved for a devolved grant to build a resource room. The school authority has recently submitted a request to my Department seeking additional funding in connection with meeting planning...

Written Answers — Schools Provision: Schools Provision (29 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A review was initiated in October 2010 by the then Fianna Fáil/Green Party government in order to establish the value for money being achieved from state funding of small primary schools. This value for money review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure. I do not have a predetermined view on the outcome of the...