Results 14,141-14,160 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Libraries (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As I have indicated in responses to previous questions from the Deputy on this matter, universities are autonomous statutory bodies and the management and operation of their facilities are entirely the responsibility of the college authorities. Therefore, as Minister for Education and Skills, I have no role in relation to the manner in which the universities operate and manage access by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department no longer provides separate substitute cover for principals and deputy principals to attend conferences such as those organised by the IPPN or other education partners. This decision was taken in 2011 for budgetary reasons rather than any issue about the benefits of the conferences. It is at the discretion of a school Board of Management to allow its existing Teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Croke Park Agreement Issues (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following the ICTU Public Services Committee's rejection of the proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission on an extension to the Croke Park Agreement, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, requested the LRC to engage with the public service unions to establish if there is any basis to conclude a negotiated agreement. In light of this ongoing process,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 25/2/2013 advising him that he was ineligible in relation to his grant application for 2012/13 academic year. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Expenditure (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Currently maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses. A postgraduate student may qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Education Committees Staff (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is aware of the case of the person to whom the Deputy refers, who is an employee of a Vocational Education Committee (VEC). This person has written to me on a number of occasions and an official from my Department has responded to the letter of 12th February 2013 to which he refers. The details supplied refer primarily to an employee-employer matter. My Department's view is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 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. Because of this it is generally the case that the tuition is provided at the child's place of residence although many parents use the funding, subject to conditions, to attend private pre-schools. The private pre-school in question in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Report (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In the report School Completers - What Next?, School Completers who -1. were attending full time courses in the state funded further education sector were classified as being in Second Level/Further Education and Training.2. were attending higher education part time were classified as being in Higher Education (if they were attending HEA Aided Institutions).3. had started first year in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that one of the actions set out in the "Action Plan on Bullying – Report of the Anti-Bullying Working Group" which was published in January 2013 requires that my Department, in consultation with the relevant education partners, will revise the existing anti-bullying guidelines for schools and have new national anti-bullying procedures in place for the 2013/14...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, I published an Action Plan on Bullying in January last. Taking into account all of the research reviewed and submissions and presentations received, the Anti-Bullying Working Group that produced the Action Plan did not recommend a particular anti-bullying programme, however, they did recommend nine principles that should underpin a schools approach to preventing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 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: Student Grant Scheme Representations (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 276 together. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was ineligible for the special rate of maintenance grant as the reckonable income exceeded the threshold of €22,703. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Health and Safety Issues (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department put in place an Occupational Health Strategy as a supportive resource for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs), to promote their health in their workplace, with a focus primarily on prevention rather than cure. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises of the Employee Assistance and Occupational Health Services. Medmark Occupational Healthcare is the current provider...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 274, 288 and 294 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2(b) Submission which will then be submitted to the Department for review. Planning Permission, Disability Access and Fire Safety Certificates have all been secured. Following approval of the Stage 2b submission and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2b submission was received in the Department recently for review. Following the review of the stage 2(b) submission and assuming no issues arise, the Department will then contact the Board of Management regarding the further progression of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has sought the assistance of, and is working closely with, Kildare County Council, the relevant Local Authority, in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school to which he refers. As the Deputy will be aware, negotiations are at an advanced stage. Given the sensitivities...