Results 5,801-5,820 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) include the specific requirement that a person hold a Grade D in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Junior Certificate or equivalent examination. Under Circular 0021/2011, issued by my Department in March this year, the minimum required standard of education for appointment to the post of SNA...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs in school settings. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware many areas in Dublin have seen a significant increase in the school going cohort over recent years and additional school provision will be needed in certain areas to cater for this increase. The issue of how these extra pupil places will be provided is currently under consideration in my Department. A project with a brief for a small extension and refurbishment of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A major programme of reform in Mathematics is under way in all second level schools since September last, building on the experience of 24 schools which began the programme in 2008. Project Maths is designed to encourage better understanding of mathematics, to reinforce its practical relevance to everyday life, and to ensure better curriculum continuity across the system. A key objective is...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (21 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 Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's most recent projections indicate that enrolments at post-primary level will rise from current levels of circa 312,200 pupils to about 336,600 pupils by the year 2017 and at primary level enrolments are expected to increase from the current total enrolment of circa 505,600 pupils to an expected enrolment circa 567,300 pupils by the year 2017. It is within this context that the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Public funding is provided to the Rehab group both directly by my Department and through bodies under the aegis of my Department. My Department has funded the Rehab group, including its National Learning Network division, in relation to the education of young adults with disabilities, as well as for school transport escort grants. Total funding from 2008 to March 2011 amounted to €2.8...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: While people with disabilities are encouraged to avail of FÁS mainline training, in situations where clients require more intensive support FÁS contracts with 22 specialist training providers across the country, including the National Learning Network, to deliver vocational training to people with disabilities. There are currently 2,131 training places available through specialist training...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department submitted an application in June 2009 for co-financing assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the cost of guidance, training, entrepreneurship and education programmes for some 2,840 workers made redundant from January 2009 at the Dell computer manufacturing plant in Raheen, County Limerick and at ancillary enterprises. It was estimated at that...

Written Answers — Employment Action Plan: Employment Action Plan (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. Under the sectoral plan of the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, an outline for a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities has been advanced in discussions with other Departments and stakeholder representatives. The further development of this strategy is the subject of ongoing discussions in a...

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (3 May 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 under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. Further details regarding the jobs initiative and an internship scheme will be announced...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: FÁS is implementing a number of initiatives to support registered redundant apprentices to make progress with their apprenticeships. I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 66 of 30 March 2011 in that regard. The progression possibilities for any specific apprentice in his or her own particular circumstances are operational matters for FÁS.

Written Answers — Electioneering in Schools: Electioneering in Schools (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assure the Deputy that I share the concern implicit in his question regarding the distribution of electioneering material in schools. It is my view that the dissemination of such material through the school system is highly inappropriate. I will be raising this matter with my officials to consider how best to address this in the future.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under the criteria, each of which describes the extent of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 May 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 includes a requirement for the...

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection of students for entry to higher education is a matter for the institutions which are responsible for determining entry and admissions criteria in accordance with their statutory autonomy in academic affairs. Places on full-time undergraduate courses are allocated by the universities through the Central Applications Office which manages the process on their behalf. Places are...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the board of management of the school. My Department has no role in processing applications for enrolment to schools. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is a statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision to remove resource teachers for Travellers from schools was one of the measures taken by the previous Fianna Fáil - Green Party Government in the last budget. I do not intend to revisit the decision of the previous Government to withdraw resource teacher for Traveller posts. The Deputy will understand the economic situation means difficult decisions have had to be taken. The...

Written Answers — Computerisation Programme: Computerisation Programme (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, integrating ICT into teaching and learning in schools is a major priority for this Government. My Department's ICT in Schools programme, guided by the recent Smart Schools and ICT strategy reports, sets out a clear agenda to be pursued in this regard. This programme focuses on four main priorities – ICT infrastructure in schools, the schools broadband scheme,...