Results 10,521-10,540 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (20 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Comments and observations regarding test instruments are an intrinsic part of the feedback that SEC would normally expect to receive in any year. The well-tried methodology in place to deal with issues that arise in the course of the examination process is the development of the marking scheme by the Chief Examiner and his college of examiners in light of the circumstances of that year's...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (20 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011 I announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new primary school in the area referred to. However, my Department will continue to monitor enrolments in the Portobello area to ensure that there is sufficient...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to provide an ASD unit at the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. My Department is awaiting receipt of a Stage 2a submission (Developed Sketch Scheme) from the school's Design Team. Due to the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly I wish to advise the Deputy that this Government has maintained funding for resources for children with special educational needs at a time when there is a continued requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. There is no overall reduction in Resource Teaching or Special Needs Assistant (SNA) numbers for the coming school year. The National Council for Special...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have advised the Deputy previously that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. SENOs are currently notifying...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants,...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, the Anti-Bullying Forum, which was held on Thursday 17th May, brought together a range of experts, support groups and representatives of the schools sector including parents and students. I was very pleased to open this important Forum and to provide an opportunity to explore with all the relevant stakeholders how best to tackle bullying in schools and to consider...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly I wish to clarify for the Deputy that there is no overall reduction in Resource Teaching or Special Needs Assistant (SNA) numbers for the coming school year. This Government has maintained funding for resources for children with special educational needs at a time when there is a continued requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. The National Council for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As outlined in the Five Year Plan, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. Due to the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding to meet future demographic demands, it has not been possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Courses Accreditation: Courses Accreditation (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) have informed my Department that the report in question is at an advanced stage of preparation. HETAC hopes to publish the report in the near future. The report will address issues relating to the academic validation of programmes of education and training in complementary therapies.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The minimum number of teaching days per school year at primary level is 183 full school days. Schools have local flexibility in determining how they make up the required number of teaching days, subject to adherence to the agreed standardisation in relation to the mid-term, Christmas and Easter breaks. Any additional days on which a school closes within this overall framework are a matter for...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the central grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). 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...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly I wish to clarify for the Deputy that there is no overall reduction in Special Needs Assistant (SNA) numbers for the coming school year. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Special Needs...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Students entering postgraduates courses who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270 under the Student Grant Scheme. A further limited number of students who would previously have qualified under the standard grant thresholds will qualify to have a €2,000 contribution...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, my priority is to ensure that there is sufficient school accommodation to meet projected pupil increases in the future. The 5 Year Plan that I announced in March last as part of a €2 billion capital investment programme outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. These have been prioritised on the basis of...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that I outlined my official response to the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism on the 20th June. I announced my intention to commence the divesting of patronage process immediately in an initial 44 identified areas. The first step in this process is to gather evidence on the scale of divestment required in the identified areas....

Written Answers — School Denominations: School Denominations (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 and 224 together. The information sought by the Deputies is not readily available. However, it will be compiled and forwarded directly to the Deputies as soon as possible.