Results 18,521-18,540 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There are 167 days in the school year at second level, not counting examination days. This works out at a total of 935.2 hours of class contact time per school year. It is left to the discretion of schools, as far as possible, to devise a junior cycle programme that incorporates different requirements and reflects the priorities of the school and its students. It would not be accurate to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department recently met with the Gaelscoil in question and conveyed approval for the commencement of a second junior infant class from September next. This decision took into account a detailed examination of existing and projected pupil enrolments in the area and also the demand for diversity of provision. The issue of the teaching resource required will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 250 together. Where schools are amalgamating there is a provision for the allocation of a concessionary mainstream teaching post in cases where the approved number of mainstream teachers serving in the schools at the time the amalgamation takes place exceeds the number of mainstream posts warranted by the total enrolment on the basis of the staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application relating to window replacement under the 2014 Summer Works Scheme. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive Summer Works Scheme funding in 2014 in respect of applications submitted for Categories 1 to 6 i.e. Gas, Electrical, Mechanical, Toilet Facilities and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Task Force is charged with assessing the scale of the issue and, in particular the number of genuine students who have not yet been accommodated. It will also determine what capacity is available in the sector to make accommodation for students and will oversee a system that seeks to make such accommodation. Jointly chaired by officials from the Department of Education and Skills and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The policy of my Department is to ensure, as far as possible, that the Managerial Authorities of schools give priority to unemployed registered teachers who are fully qualified when filling vacant teaching posts. It is schools that employ teachers and not my Department. However my Department has issued a number of Circulars addressing this issue in recent years. Under these Circulars School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Day to day running of a school, including those with just one full time teacher, is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Schools are required to take all reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of pupils and to participate in supervising pupils when the pupils are on the school premises, during school time and/or on school activities. The Health and Safety Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my officials have approved funding for equipment at the school to which he refers. Notification of this approval recently issued to the school.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, my Department sanctioned a devolved grant to the school in question in March, 2012 to provide 8 permanent mainstream classrooms. The building project, when completed, will replace 4 classrooms which were located in prefabs, replace 2 small classrooms with modern facilities and provide 2 additional classrooms to cater for future growth. Limerick and Clare ETB are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that I recently met with the school authorities that are involved in the proposed post primary school amalgamation building project. In that regard, the schools concerned acknowledged the steps being taken by my Department to acquire a site for the development of a building for the new amalgamated school. The Deputy is aware that the religious congregation that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Issues (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government agreed in principle to my bringing forward legislative proposals to allow for the retention of the records of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse, the Residential Institutions Redress Board and the Residential Institutions Review Committee. These proposals will include amendments to existing legislation where necessary. It is intended that the records will be retained...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to confirm that an all-in devolved grant was recently approved for the school to which the Deputy refers. This funding will allow the school to replace current prefabricated classrooms with seven purpose-built mainstream classrooms and special needs facilities. These replacement classrooms will greatly enhance the school's accommodation and it is anticipated that this project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Parliamentary Questions, for answer by the State Examinations Commission, are forwarded to the SEC on the day they are received in my Department. It is normal practice that all Parliamentary Questions are replied to by the answer date set by the Questions Office in the Oireachtas. Unavoidably, some delays may occur e.g. where a Parliamentary Question requires investigation or collation of data.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The tenders for the project to which the Deputy refers were recently returned. The Design Team is currently preparing their tender report. It is anticipated that the tender process will be complete in the coming weeks. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that works will commence on site in the coming months.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 254 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that my Department has examined the level of demand for junior infant places in the Swords area and in that regard has also been in contact with the schools concerned. Following on this contact, it was ascertained that there are currently two schools, with the same Patron, as the school referred to by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The purpose of Circular 0030/2014 is not to reduce the number of SNA posts in schools, but to clarify the role and purpose of SNA support and to ensure it is targeted at those pupils who need it, in accordance with policy advice recommendations. My officials have already consulted with school Management Bodies prior to issuing the circular and is currently setting up further meetings with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with my announcement of 28 November 2013, the new 700 pupil post-primary school for Balbriggan which will operate under the patronage of Educate Together, is scheduled to commence operation in September 2016. To that end, my Department is exploring a number of options regarding accommodation for the school and will liaise with the Patron body in that regard.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 to 240, inclusive, together. Up to the end of May 2014, there have been a total of 215 appeals lodged to my Department in respect of refusal to enrol. This is broken down as follows: 139 at post primary level and 76 at primary level. The breakdown by location as requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The cost to the end of May 2014 is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, the Government gave approval in March of this year for drafting the Education (Admissions to Schools) Bill 2014 and the General Scheme has since been referred to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting. My aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (10 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 2014/2015 school year is set out in the Staffing Schedule (Circular 0007/2014) which is available on the Department 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 30 September 2013. The...