Results 5,741-5,760 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy on the number of staff employed in my Department in 1995, 2000, 2005 and 2010 is set out in the following tables. 1995 Grade (Non-Admin) FTE* Chief Inspector 1 Deputy Chief Inspector 2 Assistant Chief Inspector 8 Divisional Inspector 20 District Inspector 48 Senior Inspector 19 Post Primary Inspector 33 Director of NEPS - Regional Director...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (14 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of the issue in relation to the broadband connection at Culmullen National School. Under my Department's Schools Broadband Programme connectivity to the internet is routed through a National Broadband Network, developed by HEAnet - the National Education and Research Network provider. HEAnet provides the broadband access to schools together with centrally managed services such as...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 59 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government clearly states that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. To that end, we will endeavour to protect front-line services in education. However, the fiscal position is extremely difficult. This country is effectively in receivership. It...

Written Answers — Education and Training Programmes: Education and Training Programmes (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government contains proposals to support a Jobs Initiative which will provide additional places in training, work experience and educational opportunities for those who are out of work. This will include an Internship Scheme which will be under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. Further details regarding the Jobs Initiative and an Internship Scheme will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that in its October 2001 report, the Task Force on Autism made many recommendations concerning broad educational provision for children on the autistic spectrum from pre-school through to third level. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that these recommendations have provided a basis for the development of educational services and supports for children with autism...

Written Answers — Foireann Scoile: Foireann Scoile (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Áiríonn Rannán na Staitisticí ar shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne eolas forleathan a bhaineann le rollúcháin daltaí, méideanna na ranganna, méideanna na scoileanna agus an líon múinteoirí. Baineann na figiúirí is déanaí a foilsíodh leis an scoilbhliain 2009/10. Tá eolas staitisticúil i leith na scoilbhliana 2010/11 in úd a fhoilsithe i Meán Fómhair 2011.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 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 SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This now includes a requirement for the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff in the school, the range of subjects...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council has statutory responsibility under the Teaching Council Act, 2001 (Section 38) to review and accredit programmes of initial teacher education in Ireland. The Council is independent in carrying out assessments of such programmes and my Department has no role in the matter. I am informed by the Council that the organisation to which the Deputy refers has submitted a Post...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (19 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 — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume the Deputy is referring to Circular 19/2011 which commences the redeployment process for surplus permanent teachers at primary level. This circular, which is available on my Department's website, sets out the detailed arrangements for the operation of the redeployment process. The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: At a Government meeting held on the 15th March, 2011, it was decided to reduce the number of staff permitted at Ministers' constituency offices from 6 to 4 and Minister of State's constituency offices from 5 to 3. There are currently 2 officers in my Constituency Office. Their grades are as follows: 1 Higher Executive Officer; 1 Staff Officer. There is currently 1 (0.8 full time equivalent)...

Written Answers — Company Closures: Company Closures (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In the period prior to the appointment of the Receiver in this case, the University in question discharged all of its financial responsibilities under its contract with the main contractor directly to the contractor as normal. Any monies now owed by the main contractor to sub contractors fall to be addressed by the Receiver. In these circumstances, the University is unable to assist the sub...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The brief for the building project to which the Deputy refers was revised in 2007 from an extension/refurbishment of existing accommodation to one intended to provide two new schools on the existing site. The Deputy will note that this project was not included in the 2011 school building work programme announced earlier this year. The progression of all large scale building projects,...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The new system of tendering for FÁS courses will require registration on a Contracted Training Tender List (CTTL). All training providers, including those currently on the CTTL, who wish to register on the CTTL will have to meet the requirements of a new pre-qualification process which will be managed by the FÁS Procurement Department in conjunction with the FÁS Training, Policy &...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the Education Act 1998, teachers are employed by the management authority of each individual school. Accordingly, a teacher' s status/position in a school is a matter for the management authority concerned. The sick leave scheme for teachers is the subject of a collective agreement reached at the Teachers' Conciliation Council and the terms are set out in Circular Letter...

Written Answers — School Text Books: School Text Books (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has no role in the production and publication of school text books. Accordingly, I am not in a position to speculate on the cost of school books, which is determined on a commercial basis by the educational publishers who commission them. I can also confirm that my Department does not administer any licensing scheme, and I am unaware of any licensing scheme run by any other...

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (19 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently written to all Special Schools to advise them that it will consider requests from school authorities who wish to retain students who are over 18 years of age, for an extra school year, in circumstances where they are following courses leading to accreditation at a level of FETAC 3 or above. As such, I would ask the Deputy to advise...