Results 14,001-14,020 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Fee Exemptions (25 Apr 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (25 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is to ensure that a continuum of special educational provision is made available, as required, for children with special educational needs, including those attending secondary schools. This includes making provision for special school placements and special class places where required. The National Council for Special Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (25 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The introduction of the new salary scale and its impact on people with previous service has proven to be a complex task which has required a detailed implementation process. My Department, in consultation with VECs and the teacher unions, has been working through the operational aspects of these changes as they affect existing teachers and their pay. That process is almost concluded and I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Education Strategy (25 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Enterprise Ireland estimates that the international education sector is worth €1.025 billion annually to the Irish economy. The Government is pursuing a range of actions to implement the International Education Strategy and to position Ireland as a top-quality destination for study. At present around 32,000 students are registered in Irish higher education institutions, including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design team are currently working on the completion of stage 2(b) which includes the preparation of tender documents. Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Participation in my Department's July Provision Scheme is an option for all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism or severe to profound general learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month of July.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising unemployed registered teachers over retired registered teachers and registered teachers over unregistered people. It is important to note that boards of management of schools and vocational education committees employ teachers and not the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The surveys referred to by the Deputy were carried out on foot of recommendations made by the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the primary sector. Resources are now being concentrated on implementing the survey outcomes. I have no plans to extend the surveys to post-primary level at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down syndrome, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that there no plans to remove funding for pupils with autism in mainstream schools for their July provision. The July Provision 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: A list of the primary and post primary schools in Dublin city and county that have rented temporary accommodation is attached for the Deputy's attention. My Department does not hold information in the sub-county format as requested. Please note that one prefab unit may consist of one or more classrooms and/or ancillary accommodation. Under the Prefab Replacement Initiative announced in March...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Establishment (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Education and Training Boards Bill concluded all stages in the Seanad on 23rd April last. As amendments were introduced in the Seanad it will be necessary to return to the Dail after conclusion in the Seanad. The Bill is scheduled to be taken in the Dáil to report back on the Seanad amendments on Thursday, 2 May. Following enactment of the Bill, I will determine a date for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (30 Apr 2013)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Home Tuition Scheme operated by my Department is designed to support children who are not in a position to attend school and, because of this, it is generally the case that the tuition is provided at the child's place of residence. In the majority of cases therefore, there will be 1 child in receipt of an individualised educational programme on a 1:1...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2013/2014 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0013/2013) which is available on the Department 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 30 September 2012. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am satisfied in the broadest sense that Civil Servants at my Department carry out their functions with honesty, impartiality and with respect for the citizens they serve. The Secretary General as the Accounting Officer is obliged to appear before the Public Accounts Committee on an annual basis and account for the expenditure of the Education budget as voted on by the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has requested the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to provide policy advice to my Department, in accordance with its role under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, on the appropriate nature and configuration of educational supports which should be provided to schools to support children with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Redundancy Payments (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: An application for compensation for loss of hours from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 6th December 2012. Applications are processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being made to process these applications as quickly as possible. A large volume of applications were received during the period June - October 2012. Payments are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Rainwater Harvesting Systems Provision (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that rainwater harvesting systems were first introduced for major school building projects in 2008. Since then all major school building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so, can incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into their accommodation brief. While fitting the systems in new schools during...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Renewable Energy Generation (30 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the responsibility for the regulation of the electricity market rests with the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), which is an independent statutory body and my Department has no statutory function in the matter. I am aware, however, that in Ireland's deregulated open market, electrical suppliers can source their electricity from whatever sources they...