Results 10,341-10,360 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of Special Education supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. In considering...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) is a mandatory part of the curriculum in primary schools and in junior cycle since 2003 and is designed, inter alia, to promote positive mental health. SPHE is supported by comprehensive teacher guidelines and a curriculum support service which provide training and advice for schools and a resource directory. The Department has also issued...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of my Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate. Second-level schools were selected by reference to centrally-held data from the Post-Primary Pupils and State Examinations...

Written Answers — Outdoor Education Centres: Outdoor Education Centres (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A complaint has been made to the European Commission regarding the funding that my Department provides to Outdoor Education Centres, operated by a number of Vocational Education Committees, on the basis that it is unlawful. The Commission is currently in the process of establishing the facts in this matter and my Department is in ongoing correspondence with the Commission in this regard.

Written Answers — Education Grants: Education Grants (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has no plans to review the grant payable under the Remote Area Grant scheme.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly I wish to advise the Deputy that only teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are employed and who are registered with the Teaching Council are entitled to payment at the qualified rate. It is a matter for the Teaching Council to determine the individual's suitability in this regard. Enquiries in relation to Teaching Council...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the approval of special classes. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the names and...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The National School Annual Census does not collect information on the home addresses of pupils. Hence the information requested is not available.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: School authorities are responsible for managing the delivery of their devolved building projects and ensuring that the project is delivered within the approved budget. The school referred to by the Deputy was allocated devolved funding for the provision of a mainstream classroom and a multi-purpose room under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in 2011. In April 2012 the school...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. They have in place criteria for reasonable accommodation including an independent appeals system. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Details of the ceilings in the Government's Employment Control Framework for bodies under the aegis of my Department are provided in the attached table, together with details of the latest available staffing levels. Department of Education and Skills Employment Control Framework (ECF) for Aegis Bodies Name of Body ECF for end 2012 Staffing numbers at end March 2012* Whole Time...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to clarify that there have been no cuts made to the allocation for July Provision within my Department's budget. Therefore, any decision by an individual school to reduce the level of July Provision offered is a matter for each school. Any such decision has not been brought about by reductions in the level of available resources by the Department of Education & Skills. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The proposed building project to extend and refurbish Virginia Mixed National School, County Cavan has recently been authorised to proceed to Stage 2a of architectural planning. To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department approved a devolved grant in April last to the school, referred to by the Deputy, for the provision of one mainstream classroom. The school has appealed this decision and is seeking increased funding for additional school accommodation. This proposal is currently being considered and a response will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. I wish however to advise the Deputy...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received correspondence from the school in question in relation to the matter to which he refers. A response will issue to the school authority as soon as the matter has been considered by my Department.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for a roof replacement in 2010. This application was refused as the scope of works for which funding was sought was outside the terms of the scheme. This decision was appealed and the school authority were informed that the project still remained outside the scope of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data for...