Results 6,741-6,760 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I share the concern expressed by many parents and organisations, including the St. Vincent de Paul, in relation to the high cost of school books and the frequent rate of revisions made by book publishers. I previously indicated to the House that I would meet with book publishers and representatives of parents to discuss this important issue in greater detail. I can confirm that I met with...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operates an early intervention continuum of assessment in schools for children with the broad range of special educational needs, including behavioural difficulties. The continuum of assessment allows for the identification of pupils with special educational needs, their nature and severity by harnessing the experience of class...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 52 together. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. 10,575 whole time equivalent posts are being provided for the coming school year. To manage this limited resource, 475 of these posts will be retained for allocation over the coming school year to address...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that I am not in a position to reverse changes to the student grant scheme announced by the previous Government. Some 18,000 students qualifying for grant support are estimated to live between 24kms and 45kms from their colleges. Furthermore, it is estimated that some 6,900 mature students qualifying for grant support live 45 kilometres or less from their institution. Students...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that although the relevant sections of the EPSEN Act providing for a statutory requirement for the use of Individual Education Plans (IEP) plans have not yet been commenced, schools are encouraged to use such plans through policy guidance, support, training and inspection. The DES Inspectorate's advice is that the majority of schools are now using some form of...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I recently announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years. The optimum delivery method for each of these schools will be considered on an ongoing basis within the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme and available financial resources. As part of the recent Jobs Initiative announcement I also confirmed that I...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have taken no decision in relation to the introduction of a capital assets test for student grant purposes. I have made it clear, however, that I want to ensure that the objective of the student grant schemes is met. This objective is the most equitable distribution of the available resources in favour of those who have the greatest level of need and who clearly comply with the terms of...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 48, 98 and 126 together. I take the issue of bullying in schools very seriously and am committed to ensuring that 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 and this code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I take it that the Deputy is referring to a recommendation made in the Smart Schools = Smart Economy report in relation to the development of a national "Virtual Learning Environment" or VLE. My officials are currently exploring ways of implementing this recommendation. As the Deputy will appreciate, this is not a straightforward undertaking. In the context of a rapidly changing and...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos.36 and 45 together. I am fully committed to ensuring that, to the greatest extent possible, only qualified and registered teachers are employed in recognised schools. My Department issued Circular 0031/2011 in May this year. It requires schools to prioritise teachers over unregistered persons, appropriately qualified teachers over teachers qualified for...

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I previously indicated to the House that I would meet with book publishers and representatives of parents to discuss this important issue in greater detail. I can confirm to the Deputy that I met with representatives of the book publishers on the 22nd June. At that meeting I emphasised the need to minimise the amount of changes they make in textbooks. I also stressed the need to avoid new...

Written Answers — Private Schools Funding: Private Schools Funding (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the Deputy is referring to recognised voluntary secondary schools that charge fees. The schools concerned are fully recognised by my Department since their foundation. The central funding measure is the payment of salaries in respect of teaching posts approved by my Department. The estimated cost of these in 2011 in is the order of €100m. I am already on record that this...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I will be launching Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life, the national strategy to improve literacy and numeracy among children and young people, tomorrow, June 8th. The strategy contains a range of actions on the professional development of teachers in the area of literacy.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The advertisement of teaching and other posts is the responsibility of boards of management of schools and are managed by the relevant management body in accordance with guidelines agreed by the education partners. Primary school posts are advertised on a number of websites approved by the management bodies. These include www.educationposts.ie, www.eteach.ie, www.staffroom.ie and...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has published a Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Analysis review of the Special Needs Assistant scheme. This review is available on my Departments website: www.education.gov.ie. The Review has shown that the SNA Scheme has been successful in supporting schools in meeting the needs of students with disabilities who also have significant care needs....

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am committed to joint co-operation in this important area. An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), which is funded by my Department to co-ordinate the provision of teaching resources for Irish medium schools, works in partnership with CCEA to jointly plan the development of resources where appropriate. COGG has recently agreed to invite CCEA to appoint a...

Written Answers — Third Level Staff Remuneration: Third Level Staff Remuneration (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 59 together. The Government is taking measures to reduce Public Sector salary costs. The Government announced recently that salary costs at the highest levels across the Public Sector will be reduced through the application of salary ceilings. We have shown our commitment to this by introducing a cap of €200,000 for persons serving in higher positions...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grant scheme for the 2011/12 academic year has been published on www.studentfinance.ie and students are urged to apply as early as possible for a grant. They do not have to wait for a CAO offer. Applicants should make sure that their application forms are properly completed and that they have the correct supporting documentation. Late applications and incorrectly completed...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the schools Broadband Programme my Department procures broadband services on behalf of schools and under the resultant contracts the best available connections are provided subject to over resources constraints. Under the Schools Broadband Programme connectivity to the internet is routed through a National Broadband Network, developed by HEAnet - the National Education and Research...