Results 6,221-6,240 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I take the issue of bullying in schools very seriously. I am committed to ensuring schools tackle bullying in all its forms. Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools are required to have in place a Code of Behaviour. This code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare Board. The guidelines, which were issued to schools in 2008, make...

Written Answers — Educational Performance Management: Educational Performance Management (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together. All primary schools are required to implement standardised tests of English reading and mathematics at two stages of the primary cycle. The tests have been devised taking account of the learning objectives of the published Primary School Curriculum and have been standardised for the Irish population. My Department commissions cyclical...

Written Answers — In-Service Training: In-Service Training (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The leadership and planning strand of the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) provides professional development opportunities for aspiring, new and established school leaders in a range of programmes and activities. There are over 4,000 schools between the primary and post-primary sectors. In the current school year, the PDST is providing leadership development programmes...

Written Answers — In-Service Training: In-Service Training (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Professional Development Service for Teachers offers a suite of professional development opportunities to school leaders including programmes for aspiring, new, and established principals and deputy principals. All of these services are provided to school leaders who request them. In relation to school principals who are identified as needing additional support, as outlined in sections...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 113, inclusive, together. The supply of suitably qualified teachers is a matter of strategic importance to the State. It is widely acknowledged that the quality of teachers impacts directly on the quality of education. The initial teacher education providers are members of a dynamic teaching and learning community, providing a quality lifelong...

Written Answers — Departmental Reviews: Departmental Reviews (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The value for money review on small schools is part of the normal review processes undertaken by all Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure and is being conducted in line with the standard procedure for value for money reviews. These procedures require that the views of stakeholders be obtained and the public consultations were designed to achieve this aim. This was...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy was one of 453 successful schools that received funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme, which was announced on 30 March 2011. The school has been in contact with my Department regarding the matter referred to by the Deputy. My officials clarified the Department's position to the school in writing on 6 April.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department seeking funding to provide additional accommodation. The application is being assessed. My Department will convey a decision on the application to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Early Start Programme which was launched in 1994-95 is a targeted intervention for pre-school children at risk of educational disadvantage. Early Start units are located in Primary Schools. Although my Department is supporting Early Start units in Finglas, they are not located in St. Kevin's PS in Finglas West. If the Deputy could forward the roll number of the school or further...

Written Answers — Home-School Liaison Scheme: Home-School Liaison Scheme (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no cutbacks to Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Services, which is a major component of DEIS, (Delivering Equality of Opportunities in Schools), the action plan for educational inclusion. The current provision of HSCL services will remain in the 200 post primary and 345 urban primary schools participating in DEIS. The process of allocating...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As previously advised, the proposal for an academy for children with autism from the organisation in question is being examined by officials in my Department. The need for any meetings in this context will be considered as part of this examination. My officials will respond to the organisation in this regard presently.

Written Answers — Teaching Contracts: Teaching Contracts (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 127 and 128 together. The number of teachers employed on contracts of indefinite duration in secondary schools in 2010-11 is 1,741. The number of teachers employed in community and comprehensive schools on contracts of indefinite duration in the 2010-11 school year is 796. The number of teachers employed on contracts of indefinite duration for less than...

Written Answers — Teaching Contracts: Teaching Contracts (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department allocates teaching posts to individual VEC schemes in accordance with published criteria. It is a matter for the individual VEC scheme, as employer, to determine whether a teacher is entitled to hold a contract of indefinite duration. The information requested by the Deputy would therefore be held at individual VEC level.

Written Answers — Teaching Contracts: Teaching Contracts (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together. The information requested by the Deputy is not available as the managerial authorities of schools will not have appointments for the 2011-12 school year finalised until September 2011.

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The changes to school transport services were announced in the 2011 Budget by the previous Fianna Fáil–Green Party Government and derive from a recommendation in the Value for Money Review of the scheme. These changes include the requirement that a minimum of ten eligible pupils residing in a distinct locality will be required to retain or establish a school transport service from 2011-12...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Departments web-site, currently provide for a standard range of servery and eating facilities in the design of new Primary and Post Primary schools. These facilities are not intended to be full commercial...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (1 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware all funding allocated under my Department's Devolved Schemes including the Summer Works Scheme to allow school management authorities carry out building or improvement works to their schools, must be offered to the market in accordance with EU and National procurement guidelines. School management authorities must comply with all the requirements of Technical Guidance...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the student grant measures announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil - Green Party Government began to come into effect from January this year when a reduction of 4% in the rates of grant was applied to all student grant recipients. Further to this, budget measures that will come into effect from next September for the 2011/12 academic year will...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. Already, a revised Leaving Certificate curriculum in Irish began in all schools in...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 80 together. The previous Government decided to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16 and on the merger of particular counties. I am anxious to ensure that progress continues to be made in the work on bringing about a reduction in the number of VECs. The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) has recently responded to my invitation to it to...