Results 10,661-10,680 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2012-2013 school year, Circular 0007/2012, is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March of this year I announced a five year construction programme which outlined all of the major school building projects at primary and post-primary level which have been scheduled to commence construction over that timeframe. The five year plan outlines when the major projects will proceed to construction. These projects comprise: 106 new schools at primary level 65 large-scale...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March of this year, I announced a Five Year construction programme which outlined 275 major school building projects at primary and post-primary level which have been scheduled to commence construction over that timeframe. The details in relation to all of these projects, including those currently under construction, may be accessed on my Department's web-site www.education.ie.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly, 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...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 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...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June of last year I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years to meet our increased demographics. Included in that announcement is a new post-primary school planned for Maynooth, Co. Kildare which is scheduled to commence operation in September 2014. I also announced new arrangements for the recognition and determination of patronage of these new...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June of last year I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years to meet increasing demographics across a number of locations. On 12 March this year I announced the Major Building Projects to be undertaken over the next five years. These announcements include a number of projects in the areas referred to by the Deputy. My Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Student Retention Rates: Student Retention Rates (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The extent of student dropout at second level is published by my Department in the reports titled Retention Rates of Pupils in Second Level Schools. See link to the reports on my Department's website http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=17216&ecateg ory=46598&language=EN The most recently published data, for the cohort who entered the Junior Cycle in 2004, and sat the Leaving...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has received an application for an extension from the school in question which has been assigned a Band 2 rating. The application includes, inter alia, for the replacement of an assembly hall. The Deputy will appreciate however that in view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The cost of ministerial transport for 2009, 2010 and 2011 was €111,495.46, €101,973.61 and €158,723.17 respectively. These figures include the salary of the civilian drivers, their subsistence costs and the amount of travel and subsistence paid to the Minister and the Minister of State. The Government decided that with effect from the 1st, May 2011 Cabinet ministers would no longer be...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This matter has been raised on a number of occasions. The considered response of my Department and the State Examinations Commission is that this proposal would lead to an unsound educational experience for students. The Ordinary Level syllabus and Higher Level syllabus are both designed to be covered over a two year period. It would be a considerable challenge to encourage those who...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 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 Resource Teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board which was considered by the board at its meeting on 14 June. All appeals submitted to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board were considered in accordance with the published appeals criteria set out in my Department's Staffing Circular 0007/2012 which is available on the website. The board sough...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The attached document provides the relevant details of all appointments (and re-appointments) made to bodies under the aegis of my Department since my appointment as Minister on 9 of March, 2011 The Deputy should note that, in accordance with Government policy, expressions of interest have been sought through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) from suitably qualified and experienced...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. This includes the employment of superintendents for the examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Psychological Assessments: Psychological Assessments (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. NEPS in common with other psychological services encourages a staged assessment process...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The person referred to by the Deputy was an employee of the Board of Management of the Limerick Model School. The Board of Management has made an application, under the terms of the Superannuation Act 1887, seeking to award the individual concerned a gratuity payment on retirement. My officials, in consultation with officials of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, are currently...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 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 resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for grant assistance under the student grant scheme is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority, i.e. local authority or Vocational Education Committee. It is a matter for each grant awarding authority to determine at its own absolute discretion whether or not to accept a late application. As this is a matter between the applicant and the grant awarding...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Jun 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, including those relating to nationality, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. The nationality...