Results 17,261-17,280 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Participation (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department allocates significant resources to ensure that students can participate fully in their academic programmes and are not disadvantaged by reason of a disability. The Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) provides funding to both further and higher education institutions for the provision of services and supports for full-time students with disabilities. A claim under the Fund...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Generally, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Five Year Plan is focused on meeting those demographic needs and sets out the school projects that are planned to proceed to construction over the duration of the Plan. My Department will also consider...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is aware of the accommodation issues arising at the school, referred to by the Deputy. In that regard, my Department is currently liaising with the school, in question, regarding how best to meet their long term accommodation needs, including the replacement of prefabs. In the interim, my Department has approved additional accommodation for the school to meet its short-term...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: ICT is a tool that can, if used properly, enhance teaching and learning. In particular the use of eportfolios can facilitate assessment. My Department is exploring the use of eportfolios though its participation in an EU funded project which will pilot eportfolios solutions in a number of schools. My Department's Professional Development Support Service for Teachers - Technology in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that many schools withdraw pupils occasionally from the main classroom for short periods of time in order to provide support to them, or to manage pupil behaviour, if a child is exhibiting behaviours which may be a danger to themselves or others. In some circumstances, a child who is exhibiting extreme behaviours may be brought to another room to ensure the safety...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (25 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 and I am aware of the difficulties faced by schools in relation to these schemes. Their efforts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to subsection (1)(b)(ii) of section 9 of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, which allows the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to extend the "grace period" during which pension awards to persons who retire from public service jobs are protected against, in particular, the pay reductions applied under that Act....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equality Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government did not oppose the Private Members Down Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill 2013, at second stage. This Bill has now been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection. The NCSE report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs recommended that under a proposed new allocation model, all children, including those with Down syndrome, should be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Exchange Scheme (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: At primary level a teacher exchange scheme exists whereby a teacher may voluntarily exchange with a teacher in any other school. The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years. There are 25 exchanges involving 50 teachers currently in place in primary schools.Given that such exchanges are for a limited period of time, it is not appropriate for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are five primary schools in the town to which he refers offering a total of ten junior infants classes annually. My Department gave approval to two of the schools to enrol an additional Junior Infant class group in 2013-14 to cater for increasing enrolments. In addition, my Department approved grant aid to two of the schools to provide accommodation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy has appealed the decision of the awarding authority to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board. The appeal was received by the Board on 4 February 2014 and will be heard within the timeframe set out in the Student Support Act 2011. The student will be notified directly of the outcome of the appeal.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities 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. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 to 238, inclusive, and 242 and 243 together. The information as requested by the Deputy is not immediately available. The details will be forwarded directly to the Deputy when compiled.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Career Breaks (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 241, inclusive, together. The information obtained from my Department Databases indicate that there are currently 350 teachers employed in Secondary and Community/Comprehensive schools on career break. There are 1,345 teachers employed in primary schools currently on career break.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Discipline (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together. In 2013, 403 section 29 appeals were lodged to my Department, 140 at primary level and 263 at post primary level. Out of the 403 appeals lodged 203 of these were heard by a section 29 committee. My officials have provided a full breakdown of these figures on the table below. Section 29 Appeal Administration Unit: 2013 Statistics ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Inspection Reports (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. The Procedure for Review of Inspections on Schools and Teachers under Section 13(9) of the Education Act 1998 provides for an informal and formal review process. In 2013, there was one request for a formal review of an inspection in relation to a special school. The outcome of this review was that the appeal was upheld and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 250 together. To date the Chief Inspector has received two requests from boards of management of primary schools to conduct reviews under Section 24 of the Education Act (1998). The requests were acceded to in both cases and inspections of the work of both teachers were completed in line with the Section 24 procedures. It is my understanding that in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Equipment (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. In 2013 20 laptop computers and 241 new and renewed mobile phone subscriptions were provided to employees of my Department. No tablet devices were provided to employees. Over the course of 2013 3 encrypted laptop computers and 4 mobile phones were reported as lost or stolen to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. The number of students due to graduate in 2014 are set out in the table. Colleges Estimated Graduates 2014 Estimated Graduates 2014 Primary State Funded ITE Providers Bachelor of Education Post Graduate Mary Immaculate College of Education 449 66 Church of Ireland College of Education 28 0 St.Patricks College of Education 461 68...