Results 8,401-8,420 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Third Level Enrolments: Third Level Enrolments (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of full time enrolments in publicly funded higher education institutions over last three years are: 2008/09 - 148197; 2009/10 - 157946; 2010/11 - 161647. The actual enrolments in 2010/11 slightly exceed the projected demand for that year (161089). The number of places made available to students is a matter for higher education institutions. Projected demand calculations are...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 Board (NEWB). The NEWB guidelines were issued to schools in 2008 and make it clear that each school must have policies to prevent or address bullying and harassment and schools must make...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Statistics section of my Department's website contains extensive information relating to pupil teacher ratio (PTR) and class size in primary schools. The source of this data is the National School Annual Census. Statistical information in respect of the current school year is currently being compiled in my Department and is due for publication in September 2012. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to special needs education it should be noted that there has been no reduction in the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) which will be available for schools next year, with 10,575 posts remaining available for allocation. There has also been no reduction in the overall number of resource teaching posts which will be available for allocation...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: One Assistant Principal Officer has been assigned as Education and Skills attaché at the Irish Permanent Representation to the European Union. This officer represents the Department in dealings with EU institutions, including the European Commission and European Council working groups which deal with education and skills issues. She also keeps the Department informed of EU policy...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There is no deduction from the Pension of the person referred to by the Deputy for the value referenced by him in the details supplied. However, there is a deduction for a slightly higher amount which is in respect of the Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR). The Public Service Pension Reduction (PSPR) applies to the pensions of civil and public servants with effect from 1 January 2011....

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A review group has been established by the Minister for Health to examine the content and structure of the current nursing and midwifery degree programmes including the points of entry, clinical placement requirements and governance arrangements having regard to overall workforce planning needs and new patterns of service delivery within the health system. Following completion of the review...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The 2012 allocation for the NCTE which is now part of the support services for schools is currently under consideration and my officials are having discussions with the management of the Dublin West Education Centre in this regard. I expect that a decision will be made shortly. Previous allocations for this work were €5,120,000 in 2010 and €3,828,326 in 2011.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In line with the nationally agreed contract for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) full-time SNAs are required to work for the normal classroom hours including class break periods in the school that they are working in, and in addition to be available for a period of time before and after school in order to help with such duties as reception and dispersal of children and preparation and tidying...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant....

Written Answers — School Supervision and Substitution Scheme: School Supervision and Substitution Scheme (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The cost of substitution cover claimed by the managerial authorities of secondary and community/comprehensive schools to provide replacements for teachers absent from their teaching posts on work associated with state examinations in the academic years 2009/10 and 2010/11 are as follows: 2009/2010 - €1.389 million 2010/2011 - €1.386 million

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government recognises the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant or reformed church background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos while at the same time ensuring that funding arrangements are in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. With regard to the fee-charging Protestant schools, an arrangement exists whereby funding is...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182, 181 and 183 together. In June 2011, I announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years across a number of locations. This announcement included a proposal to establish a new school in the area referred to by the Deputy. This school is to be established in September 2012. Under the application...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that my Department has secured a site in the area referred to by the Deputy. The new site is intended for the construction of a new primary school for occupation by an existing nearby school. The next phase of the process will be the appointment of a design team to take the project through the stages of architectural planning. Officials from my Department will contact the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Responsibility for the delivery of this project was devolved to the Board of Management of the school in 2008 and the legal contract for the delivery of the works is between the Board of Management and a construction company that was contracted to deliver works at the school. I understand that agreement on a way forward has now been reached between the two parties.

Written Answers — Chaplaincy Services: Chaplaincy Services (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Chaplain posts are allocated in respect of Community and Comprehensive Schools and designated Community Colleges. There are currently 152 wholetime equivalent posts allocated in respect of chaplaincy services at a cost of approximately €9m for the 2011/2012 school year.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions under this programme are regulated by the institutions themselves. Further details are available at www.accesscollege.ie. The...

Written Answers — Book Loan Scheme: Book Loan Scheme (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has undertaken a survey of schools to establish the current situation regarding school book rental and loan schemes. This survey has recently been completed. When the results of this survey have been examined, I will consider how I might incentivise the introduction of book loan or rental schemes in schools that do not currently operate such schemes. I believe it is the most...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The announcement I made on the 11th January in relation to my Department reporting to me within four weeks refers only to the impact of the withdrawal of certain posts allocated under previous disadvantaged schemes in DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools. This report will detail the facts for each individual school affected by this measure, applying the most up to date enrolments for...