Results 5,821-5,840 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together. The decision to remove resource teacher for Traveller posts from schools is just one of a range of measures included in the National Recovery Plan 2011-14 to secure savings in the 2011-12 school year. I do not intend to revisit the decision of the previous Government to withdraw resource teacher for Traveller posts. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 May 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 was one of a number of measures introduced in budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The budget measures set out the detail of the reduction in teacher numbers and the revised arrangements for special needs assistants. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country finds itself, it is not possible to reverse these changes. My Department has advised schools through circulars of the changes and where applicable, schools...

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

Ruairi Quinn: A phased reduction in the number of language support teachers was one of a number of measures introduced in budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country now finds itself, it is not possible to reverse these changes. This change...

Written Answers — Clár Tógála Scoileanna: Clár Tógála Scoileanna (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá suíomh aitheanta don scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta agus tá ceannach an tsuímh sin faoi réir cead imlíneach pleanála a bheith deonaithe. Tá iarratas imlíneach pleanála á réiteach ag mo Roinn i láthair na huaire. Breithneofar ceannach an tsuímh agus seachadadh an fhoirgnimh nua scoile i bhfianaise na ngealltanas atá tugtha cheana féin agus na n-éileamh iomaíoch eile ar...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a student's local grant awarding authority which is either the VEC or the county council. I understand that, in this case, the grant awarding authority is County Cork VEC. I understand that the student in question was awarded a grant on 20 April 2011.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application under the 2011 summer works scheme. I regret that the application made by the school was not successful because the application did not meet the essential qualification criteria outlined in the circular governing the operation of the scheme for the works in question. A letter to this effect has issued to the school.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: At a Government meeting held on the 15th March, 2011, it was decided to reduce the number of staff permitted at Minister's 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 (civil servant) on a salary scale of €43,816 - €45,125 -...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The table provides information on the number of appointments the Minister for Education and Skills is entitled to make directly to higher education institutions and boards of agencies under the aegis of the Department. Table 1 – Bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education & Skills Body Name Appointments open todirect choice of Minister An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Rainwater harvesting systems were first introduced for major school building projects in 2008. Since then all major school building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so, can incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into their brief. While fitting the systems in new schools during construction is relatively straightforward,...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that participation in my Department's July Provision Scheme is an option for all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism or severe to profound general learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month July. Home based tuition of 10 hours per week for the four weeks in...

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

Ruairi Quinn: As part of both the primary and post-primary level school curriculum Irish is a compulsory subject. The second-level programme in Irish has the capacity to cater for a wide diversity of ability. Department circular M10/94 applies to post primary schools funded by my Department and sets out the exceptional circumstances where an exemption from the study of Irish may be granted to post...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 May 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 the 1st 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...

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 now includes a requirement for the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department seeking funding to provide additional accommodation for resource teachers and for the replacement of prefab units currently on the school site. Additional information which was sought from the school concerned has recently been provided to my Department. The application is currently being assessed and...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to the area to which he refers a site has been acquired by County Cork Vocational Education Committee with funding from my Department. It is envisaged that the site will provide for an educational campus facility to cater for future demand at Post-Primary and to facilitate the proposed re-location of two existing schools, a Gaelscoil and a Special...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A total of 68 applications in counties Laois and Offaly were made for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2011. Out of the 68 applications, 16 schools, 12 at primary level and 4 at post primary level, were successful in their applications for funding for works to be carried out. Details of the schools concerned are shown in the table. All of the school authorities concerned have been...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is provided by the National School Annual Census Return and is available on the Department's website, www.education.ie, as part of the consultations on the value for money review of small primary schools. Data on non teaching staff by school is not readily available in this format.

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

Ruairi Quinn: Recognition of prior qualified service in private schools for the purposes of progression on the incremental salary scale is covered under Circulars 29/2007 (primary teachers) and 29/2010 (post-primary school teachers). Under the above schemes, service given within Ireland or the EU in private schools which have been in existence for over 10 years and provide a full range of curricular...

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, which now includes a requirement for...