Results 6,141-6,160 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is in receipt of correspondence dated 17th May last regarding the proposed amalgamation to which the Deputy refers. The correspondance is currently under consideration and officials from my Department will be in contact with the Management Authority of the school in due course.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Education Act 1998 gives recognition to the important role which parents play in the education system through their involvement in parents' associations. The Act also recognises the role which national parents' associations may play in offering guidance to local associations. My Department recognises the National Parents' Council Primary (NPCp) as having an important role in giving a...

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

Ruairi Quinn: As you are aware, the school's project was included on the list of projects announced on the 24th January 2011 where briefs will be formulated in 2011 and the process of appointing a Design Team will commence. The next step will be to finalise the Schedule of Accommodation to meet the current and future needs of the school. In this regard, my Department will be in contact with the School...

Written Answers — International Students: International Students (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government is committed to strengthening education relations with the USA, including by attracting increased numbers of students. We start from a strong position. According to figures last year from the Institute of International Education, Ireland is the ninth most popular destination for US Study Abroad students, and the fastest growing along with China. I myself will be visiting...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have received information from the organisation referred to by the Deputy and I have outlined to it the work of the Department in areas of relevance, such as addiction, substance use, stress and behaviour. I have also given details of contact points for further information. I understand that the organisation in question is delivering and developing courses to deal with the issues outlined...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that in November 2010 my Department approved a devolved grant of €250,000, to the school to which the deputy refers. This funding was granted to build a permanent extension comprising 2 mainstream classrooms, 1 Art Room and a toilet block. The school have no applications for additional accommodation with my department at this time.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 May 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 being implemented on a phased basis over a three period across 5 strands of mathematics as follows:- Phase 1: Strand 1 - Statistics and Probability + Strand 2 - Geometry and Trigonometry Phase...

Written Answers — Post-Leaving Certification Courses: Post-Leaving Certification Courses (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 162 together. My Department has no role in the provision of funding for the Certificate Course in Leadership and Advocacy at Dundalk Institute of Technology. In addition, the Institute does not accredit the course but it does provide classroom facilities, assists with student selection at the beginning of each course and facilitates a graduation...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. A list of 453 successful schools was announced on 30 March 2011. Applications from schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised under the Summer Works Scheme funding this year and I regret that the application made by the school in question was not selected. A...

Written Answers — Departmental Payments: Departmental Payments (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There is no contractual relationship between the sub-contractor to which the Deputy refers and my Department. In general all sub-contractors employed on school building projects are employed directly by the Main Contractor or indirectly by the Main Contractor through other sub-contractors. It is a matter for all sub-contractors to agree terms and conditions and a schedule of payments with...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council aims to promote and maintain the highest standards of teaching, learning and professional conduct in our schools. It is the policy of my Department that only a teacher registered with the Teaching Council, and who has qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which he or she is proposed, should be employed by schools. Unregistered personnel...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria. However, the process of allocating teaching resources to schools 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...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 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 — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision to withdraw Resource Teacher for Travellers was taken by the previous Government as part of the last Budget. The requirement to make expenditure savings and to ensure that staffing numbers remain within the Public Service Employment Control Framework prevent me from re-visiting this decision. Resource Teacher for Traveller posts/Teaching Hours for...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) includes a Demonstration Library Project. This project establishes high quality, fully stocked and equipped modern school libraries and provides each with a professional librarian. The funding currently available to support the running of the project in 2011 is approximately €2.3 million.

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) includes a Demonstration Library Project. This project establishes high quality, fully stocked and equipped modern school libraries and provides each with a professional librarian. There are 31 Librarians working with this project and I am pleased to say that all of these Librarians will be retained for a further year.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department in November 2010 seeking funding to provide one mainstream classroom, and was approved this additional accommodation in January 2011. My Department are not currently in receipt of any correspondence for additional funding.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. All major school building projects involve the pre-qualification of suitably qualified contractors prior to issuing an invitation to tender. This is a standard requirement under national construction project procurement procedures. The criteria for suitability assessment, which are taken from the Department of Finance Capital Management...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly, I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. My Department's policy is to promote the principle of inclusive education as envisaged in Section 2 of the Education for...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The PDST is a team of seconded teachers, which offers professional development support to primary and post-primary teachers on a wide range of topics. The PDST was established in September 2010, following a reconfiguration of the support services in existence prior to that date. 2011 is the first full year of the operation of the PDST, and the service will be centrally involved in...