Results 17,081-17,100 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: An Curaclam Scoile (11 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Go nuige seo, tá mo Roinnse tar éis díriú ar bhearta oideachasúla sa Straitéis 20 Bliain a cur i gcrích a bhaineann leis an gcuraclam, le measúnú agus le hoideachas múinteoirí. Mar shampla, tá obair a rinne an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta maidir le forbairt curaclaim nua chomhtháite teanga don...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teagasc na Gaeilge (11 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Sa Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 tá roinnt gníomhartha maidir le feabhas a chur ar cháilíocht Theagasc na Gaeilge. Tá an Rialtas seo tiomanta do thacú le héirim fhoriomlán na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 agus bainfidh sé amach na cuspóirí agus na spriocanna indéanta atá molta. Tá...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (11 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations to all second level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school managements annually and are available on the Department website.In accordance with these rules each school management authority is required to organise its subject...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Weight of Schoolbags (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department issued circulars to all primary and post-primary schools in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem. The circulars referred to the recommendations of the previously published report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags. This report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants Eligibility Criteria (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter in the first instance for the awarding authority. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused as the reckonable income exceeded the prescribed thresholds for the award of grant assistance. The Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the 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. Staffing arrangements at primary level for the 2014/15 school year are set out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. For the Deputy's information, the following table contains a list of the agencies under the aegis of my Department. I, as Minister, have the authority to appoint board members to these agencies. It should be noted that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Local Authority Functions (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has enacted three pieces of legislation since June 2009 that provide for new powers or functions to be conferred on local authorities. They are: - The Education and Training Boards Act 2013, Section 30 of which confers on city and county councils the power to elect 12 members to each education and training board; - The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the pupils in their school. Schools should supervise and support children who are distressed or out of control until they have recovered and are able to re-engage in the classroom. Schools may seek advice from their local National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has produced technical guidance documentation, which provides information on space planning and design for school authorities and designers in the provision of permanent accommodation for pupils with special educational needs. Schools withdraw pupils occasionally from the main classroom for short periods of time in order to provide such support/ manage pupil behaviour if they...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory regulatory authority for the professional registration of teachers. The Council sets standards of entry to the profession and accredits initial teacher education programmes. I am satisfied that primary teachers are qualified to teach in a wide range of school environments including ASD units. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools is being gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. An appeals process is available to small schools which have had their staff number reduced as a result of the budget measure. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Provision (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: SOLAS, with the input of the ESRI is currently undertaking a comprehensive consultation process with a range of key informants inside and outside of the Further Education and Training (FET) sector including relevant Departments and Agencies, employers, unions, advocacy groups and learners as part of the development of a five year strategy for the FET Sector. This is taking place under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of some local concerns in relation to certain aspects of the enrolment policy of the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department is in contact with the authorities of the school in relation to this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grants awarding body, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) confirmed on Monday 20th January 2014 that students attending the course referred to by the Deputy are approved for funding. All applicants previously awarded a grant have had their payments reinstated and arrears paid. The decision follows a review carried out, as part of on-going audits of student grants, on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Patron Body concerned has notified my Department of its intention to divest patronage of the Outreach Class based in Mohill, Co. Leitrim, from the end of this school year. My Department has clarified for the Patron Body the importance of notifying parents of the intentions of the school authorities in this regard and of putting in place alternative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations, including an appeals process. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 arrangements for the 2014/15...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (12 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department conducts the National School Annual Census in order to gather the data my Department needs for statistical, administrative and policy planning purposes. Schools are asked to return their forms to the Department by the end of October each year. Due to the large volume of forms it takes a number of months after the October deadline to receive all forms back, fully complete...