Results 5,681-5,700 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Music is a core part of the arts curriculum in all classes in all primary schools and comprises listening, and responding, performing and composing activities. A revised primary curriculum in Music was introduced in 2005, supported by a national programme of professional development for teachers. I am very aware of the excellent work being done by schools using music as a key vehicle to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The main focus in the Teacher Allocation Section within my Department at present is the redeployment panels for permanent teachers. The Department will consider queries in relation to supplementary panel rights for fixed-term teachers, including the teacher referred to by the Deputy, when the initial work on panels for redeployment of surplus permanent teachers is completed. Such teachers...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a grant awarding authority in the first instance. My Department understands from the grant awarding authority involved in this particular case that it received a grant application from the student in question and that this application was unsuccessful. My Department also understands that the student appealed this decision to the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (7 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have invited the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), given their concerns about the current proposals for VEC aggregation, to submit alternative proposals for my consideration. The IVEA has indicated that it will respond later this month and I will be considering their proposals in the coming period. While I am open to proposals on alternative configurations, I am anxious to...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (7 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Kilkenny Jobs Club has been run by Kilkenny Council Trade Unions on behalf of FÁS for over ten years. The directors of the company have informed FÁS that it is their intention to withdraw from this role. FÁS has assured me that it will seek an alternative sponsor and put in place suitable arrangements for a Jobs Club in County Kilkenny. FÁS provides a range of other services for...

Education and Training: Motion (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to share time with Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd.

Education and Training: Motion (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I congratulate Deputy Smith on his appointment as Fianna Fáil spokesperson on education. I hope to have a constructive and positive relationship with him, as we have had in the past. On the comments made by Deputy Calleary, let me take this opportunity to clarify the record in regard to the value for money exercise in rural schools. There are 620 rural schools in the country with less...

Written Answers — Official Languages Act: Official Languages Act (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. Under Section 9(1) of the Official Languages Act, 2003, Government Departments must comply with the Regulations made by the then Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs to ensure that signs are provided in Irish only, or in English and Irish, in accordance with specific criteria set out in the Regulations. The Regulations...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that a proposal for an academy for children with autism has been received by officials in my Department who will revert to the organisation in question shortly. However it is important to emphasise that the proposal will be considered in the context of my Department's policy in this regard. My Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children including...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for the works as outlined under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers was included in the January announcement of schools to progress to secure planning permission with a view to preparing tender documents for 2011 or 2012. The project is at an advanced stage of the architectural planning process and will be lodged for planning permission once this stage is complete. Officials from my Department will be in touch with the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy wherein the Presentation Brothers set out their concerns regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government to negotiate the transfer of school infrastructure currently owned by the 18 religious orders cited in the Ryan Report, at no extra cost to the State. I intend discussing this commitment in the Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Inquiry Officer has furnished my Department with an Interim Report on the matter referred to by the Deputy. My Department sought legal advice in relation to certain aspects of the Interim Report and these advices have just been received. I have given careful consideration to the content of the Interim Report and the advices received from the Office of the Attorney General. I am...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible works were prioritised in the list of 453 successful schools that was announced on 30 March 2011. These works included Gas,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for the works as outlined under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 abolished the maximum age of retirement for new entrants to employment in the public service from 1 April 2004. It also raised the minimum pension age for new entrants to age 65. In general terms, a new entrant to employment in the public service (including employment as a teacher) is a person who enters public service...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 181 together. The school to which the Deputy refers was authorised to proceed to tender in February. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that the project will proceed to construction in late 2011.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are no additional qualification requirements required to teach in a Gaelscoil. The introduction of any such requirements would impact on the capacity to redeploy surplus permanent teachers to any primary school. My Department will be seeking in the coming period to recommence discussions with the relevant education partners, on changes necessary to achieve our objective of absorbing...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. I would like to advise the Deputy that in May 2008 the school in question applied for a change of status on foot of which my Department requested a report from the Inspector as part of its examination of the matter. The Inspectorate consulted with the three schools most directly impacted and considered the matter under a number of...