Results 6,461-6,480 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding in December 2010 to construct a resource room. The school subsequently submitted a revised proposal. This is currently being considered and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome in due course.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The circular the Deputy is referring to is "Technical Guidance Document 008 (Engaging Professional Consultants for Small Works)" which is available on my Department's website. The document is one of a large suite of guidance documents published by my Department. This particular document is provided to assist school authorities with the engagement of consultants and to ensure that any...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 225 together. In accordance with the Education Act 1998, teachers are employed by boards of management or vocational educational committees in the case of schools established or maintained by VECs. I am not aware of the details of the case to which the Deputy refers. However, the legislation under which Rights Commissioners operate provide mechanisms...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a student's grant awarding body. Where a grant awarding authority turns down an application and subsequently rejects an appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department. No appeal has been received by my Department from the student to date. A review of the case will be carried out as expeditiously as possible...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to draw the Deputy's attention to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 137 of 10 May 2011. The case to which the Deputy refers relates to the allocation of the 5% administration fee provided for in the supervision/substitution scheme, the arrangements for which are set out in my Department's Circular 26/2009. These arrangements were put in place following agreement with the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 249 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post-primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes the allocation of resource teaching hours to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A list of 453 successful schools was announced on 30 March 2011. Applications from primary and post-primary schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised for Summer Works funding this year. The Department has sought to prioritise the funds that are available towards works that are most relevant to the health and safety of staff and students alike in our schools. In...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Analysis by my Department of demographic data and enrolment trends in primary schools in the Maynooth catchment area has indicated that a new post-primary school will be required for Maynooth and its environs in the coming years. The existing post-primary school, which has over 1000 pupils enrolled, is currently housed on a 5 acre site with no room for further expansion. Following...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Advisory Council for English Language Schools (ACELS), which regulates the English language education sector, was integrated into the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) on 1 January 2010. In accordance with agreements made upon the transfer of ACELS functions and staff to the Authority, a Liaison Committee, comprising the CEO and Board members of the organisation referred...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy, has lodged an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board for a review of its allocation for language support for the 2011-12 school year (Circular 15/2009). The appeal will be considered by the Board at its next meeting which is scheduled for the end of June 2011. The school will be notified of the outcome within a few days thereafter. The Appeals...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The main focus in the Teacher Allocation Section within my Department at present is the redeployment panels for permanent teachers. The redeployment panels that have been published consist solely of surplus permanent/CID teachers who are fully registered with the Teaching Council. The next stage of the redeployment panels will consist of fixed-term primary teachers who are fully registered...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Financial assistance is available under the student grant schemes for qualifying postgraduate students subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant scheme. The student grant schemes are administered on behalf of my Department by local grant awarding authorities - local authorities and VECs - and students should apply to the grant awarding authority in the area where they live to have...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the construction of 12 classrooms has commenced in the school to which the Deputy refers. I can also confirm that the school has recently made a further application for additional accommodation to cater for an increase in enrolments and for the provision of a Special Class for Autism. This application is currently being assessed and officials in my Department will convey a...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under EU and Irish law, persons wishing to apply for registration as a teacher here must be fully recognised/registered as teachers in another EEA Member State and provide certification thereof when applying for registration with the Teaching Council of Ireland. Persons (of Irish nationality or otherwise) commencing a teacher education qualification in another EEA Member State from 1 January...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the question to relate to the probationary process for primary teachers. The Teaching Council has been informed that the relevant sections of the Teaching Council Act 2001 will be commenced no later than 1 September 2012. The Council has begun to consider the procedures and criteria for the induction and probation of primary and post-primary teachers that the Council would wish...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to inform the Deputy that there has been no overall reduction in the number of Special Needs Assistants in our education system. The Deputy will be aware that it is necessary to ensure that educational services are delivered within the resources available due to the current fiscal position. I intend to prioritise and support special educational services. However, I cannot re-visit the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Details of the costs associated with the issuing of payslips to Primary, Post-Primary and Retired Teachers by my Department for 2010 and to date in 2011 are laid out in tabular format in the attached document. Consideration was given by officials in my Department in 2010, to making payslips available electronically to serving and retired school employees on the Department's payrolls, using...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy is aware that I have undertaken to meet book publishers and parents' representatives to discuss the cost of school books and to explore any role that my Department can play in alleviating pressure on parents from the high cost of school books and the frequency of new editions. I intend to arrange this at the earliest opportunity. In the meantime, I continue to urge schools to use...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that the permanent school buildings on the site to which he refers were funded through a combination of capital grant aid from my Department and a loan raised by the VEC. The loan was raised by the VEC on foot of a contract for the sale of an existing school building. I understand that the contractual arrangement between the VEC and the purchaser provide for the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to inform the Deputy that there has been no overall reduction in the number of Special Needs Assistants in our education system. The Deputy will be aware that it is necessary to ensure that educational services are delivered within the resources available due to the current fiscal position. I intend to prioritise and support special educational services. However, I cannot re-visit...