Results 16,481-16,500 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's review of education in the Gaeltacht will primarily seek to identify options for the delivery of education in primary and post-primary schools of various linguistic profiles and to clarify policy with regard to teaching through Irish in such schools. In collaboration with the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht, it will also look at the impact of pre-school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language Issues (10 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Chief Inspector's report highlights a number of areas in relation to the teaching of Irish where improvement is required and indicates that teachers' competence and confidence in using Irish has an effect on pupils' learning opportunities. While there are no specific requirements for teachers of Irish to undergo refresher courses, all teachers have a professional responsibility to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (10 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. I want to achieve a position where every...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (10 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Details regarding payments from my Department in 2012 and up to 30 November 2013, to bodies that have been granted charitable tax exemption under Section 207 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, are set out in the following table. Excluded from this list are payments made to schools, teacher education bodies or bodies representing groups of educational institutions. Cases where the amount...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. As both Deputies said, I am familiar with the issue. It has been brought to my attention. I thank both Deputies for outlining the situation and indicating that there is a great deal of concern about the location of this school. The new school building will see some 800 students benefit from state of the art classrooms and facilities. Eureka...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I welcome the fact that this matter has been raised again. Several Deputies have raised it on different occasions. We have a degree of clarity now about the choice between the two sites. Without prejudice to any final decision there should be a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis in the totality of the terms outlined by both Deputies. This should be done as quickly as possible in order...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Issues (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) does not have a role in setting the contractual hours of work of SNAs. The contractual position in respect of SNAs is outlined in their contract of employment. Links to the SNA Contracts of Employment are as follows: Department of Education and Skills Circular SNA 12/05 (Post-Primary) - ; and Department of Education and Skills Circular SNA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The independent Student Grants Appeals Board has received an appeal from the student referred to by the Deputy. The Appeals Board aims to issue appeal determinations as promptly as possible and within the timeframe specified in the Student Support Act, 2011. The student will be notified directly of the outcome by the Appeals Board.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the applications referred to by the Deputy are being reviewed as a result of a change in circumstances and the students will be notified of the outcome shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware I launched new "Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools" on the 28th January last. These Guidelines provide practical advice to primary and post-primary schools on how rental schemes can be established and operated. The aim of the Guidelines is to help as many schools as possible to start such book rental programmes. The publication of these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware, that the school to which he refers was invited to participate in the Prefab Replacement Scheme II and I understand that the school authorities accepted this offer. This acceptance, involving the construction of a number of classrooms, including the replacement of some prefabs, represents the first Phase of development works at the school. In that regard, it is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Directives (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: One Directive related to my Department falls into the category to which the Deputy refers. The transposition of this Directive (Council Directive 2013/25/EU of 13 May 2013, adapting certain directives in the field of right of establishment and freedom to provide services, by reason of the accession of the Republic of Croatia) requires the amendment of at least 8 pieces of legislation, only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Costs (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department of Education and Skills has not incurred any costs as a result of Oireachtas members initiating legal challenges in the Courts during the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that I have recently published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. The aim of these proposals is to ensure that the way schools decide on applications for enrolment is structured, fair and transparent.I have referred the draft General Scheme and draft...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: An application to provide outside shelters on the grounds of the school to which the Deputy refers is eligible for funding under the Summer Works Scheme (category 10 - external environment). Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications are assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. The Deputy will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The main financial support available to students attending further education is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. As part of the Budget 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 76 together. The Deputies will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the selection and enrollment of pupils is the responsibility of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can between them cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. It is my firm view that all schools should be inclusive. In that regard, The Deputy will also be aware that I have recently...