Results 16,281-16,300 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I have made clear that I want schools to listen to the wishes of parents in relation to the cost of school uniforms. My Department will issue the formal circular shortly. The circular will set the end of February for the completion of ballots. This is to ensure that there will be ample time for the Board of Management (BOM) to consider the outcome and make changes as needs be. My clear...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council of Ireland is the designated authority for the recognition of qualifications under the terms of the EU Directive and the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications obtained outside of the EU. I understand that Marino Institute of Education and the University of Ulster have agreed to collaborate to assist and support candidates in the North of Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Momentum Programme Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS who manage the Momentum programme. I understand that contracts issued under the Momentum programme operate on an outcome based payments system and to achieve the maximum amount of the contract the company will need to recruit the full number of participants, train them and assess them. The monetary amount of the contracts are set out below....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Haddington Road Agreement Implementation (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The provisions of Circular 31/2013, which give effect to the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 in the Education sector, will continue to apply in the case of teachers who are not covered by the Haddington Road Agreement. It is particularly significant that the terms of the Haddington Road Agreement are more favourable for virtually all teachers than those of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together. In line with the implementation of the 20 Year Strategy, a range of curricular measures are already in place to support Gaeltacht schools. The development of a new integrated language curriculum at primary level is well advanced. This curriculum will include learning outcomes specific to the language learning needs of pupils that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá mo chinneadh polasaí déanta agam COGG agus an CNCM a chomhshuí. Chuir mé an Chomh-aireacht ar an eolas faoi seo agus phléigh mé go hiomlán leo é i Samhain 2012. Táim cinnte gur fearr a n-éascófar le feidhmiú mholtaí na straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010 - 2030, de bharr iad a bheith comhshuite, agus, ina...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I published the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector in April 2012 and I outlined my Action Plan in response to the Report in June 2012. My Department is implementing that Action Plan and progress is being made in a number of areas, including divesting of patronage in areas of stable population, inclusiveness...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Banking (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department facilitates payments in a number of different ways, principally via banking online through commercial bank accounts, via cheques, bank drafts and postal money orders. Within the Government sector my Department also facilitates payments from other Government Departments via the Office of the Pay Master General's system of Internal Fund Transfers. My Department has not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has a large General Purpose room as part of its suite of accommodation. It is open to the school authorities to utilise this facility for physical education purposes, including the activities to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for new school accommodation for the school to which he refers. Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on the matter at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006 and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment. This is undertaken through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department are in receipt of a recent application from the school referred to seeking to replace three prefabricated classrooms. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the school seeking additional information. Once a response has been received, my Department will then be in a position to consider the application further.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: 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. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Teaching Council Act 2001 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for the registration of teachers. The conditions applied to a teacher's registration, and the time period allowed to meet those conditions, are notified to the teacher at the time of registration. A three-year period in which to meet registration conditions, including teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Generally my Department does not hold prefabs that are no longer required as a result of a permanent building being provided under the School Building Programme. Under the Prefab Replacement Initiative rented prefabs are returned to the rental companies from whom they were rented and in the case of purchased prefabs these are relocated to schools requiring additional accommodation if in good...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that no booklet has been sent to parents. It is my intention to publish a circular on the issue in question on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am taking an initiative to tackle the costs of uniforms by strengthening the role of parents in how schools decide their policies on uniforms. It is my intention to request school authorities to carry out a consultation process with parents. I will not be intervening in the dress codes that schools have put in place.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department does not recognise the working week for Special Needs Assistants as comprising of 28 hours per week. The position regarding the working hours of full-time SNAs is as outlined in the standard SNA contract of employment, which was agreed by this Department, the Trade Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU) representing SNAs and the Management Bodies in 2005. In that context, the standard SNA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Departments General Design Guidelines for both Primary and Post-primary schools provides for the preparation and landscaping of the area around the school and between the school and the site entrance. Such landscaping should be simple, cost effective and easy to maintain. An allowance for planting of trees and shrubs is included in the external works allowance. The arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. Following detailed study of the demographic increases and the capacity of existing schools, my Department identified the need for the establishment of a new school to provide additional capacity for a 2 stream junior infant intake in the Ballinteer/ Stepaside area. Applications were invited from potential patrons for the new school....