Results 18,661-18,680 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A Clerk Typist Scheme for the employment of secretaries in primary and secondary schools was initiated in 1978 as part of the then Government's job-creation programme. While a small number of secretaries employed under the 1978 scheme remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out - no new posts are being created and posts which fall vacant are not being filled. The 1978 scheme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The major school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) has been approved by the Department, however, as the project was not included in the Department's Five Year Building Programme, the project was not authorised to proceed to tender. Due to competing demands on my Department's capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: An approval letter was issued to the Management Authority of the school referred to by the Deputy on 8th May 2013 advising them that they had been approved €12,750 under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to enable them address dampness and mildew issues at their school building. All approved funding was paid to the school authority on the 11th October 2013 and no funding was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Where the student, their parents, legal guardian, spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, as applicable, get a payment from any other government department or state agency details must be submitted as part of the grant application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for 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 Roof Works...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Persons in receipt of the supplementary welfare allowance may apply for a student grant. Assuming that students satisfy all of the relevant terms and conditions of the student grant scheme, eligible students on this payment qualify for the standard rate of grant and student contribution or fees where applicable. Supplementary welfare allowance is not an eligible payment for the special rate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of places on Nursing Programmes at DCU is tightly regulated and guided by the Nursing Board. The Nursing Careers Centre (managed by An Bord Altranais) publish an annual guide for Nursing applicants - "Nursing/Midwifery - A career for you" with full information on the number of Nursing places available per year in each Higher Education Institute. I attach details of the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was established in November 2012. In the 20 month period since its establishment, QQI has incurred the following expenditure. External consultants and professional services expenditure was as follows: €5,748 outsourced fixed asset maintenance; €8,925 related to project management advice and support; €14,365...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Holidays (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The provisions in relation to the minimum school hours and days for primary schools are set out in my Department's "Time in School" Circular 11/95. This provides that the minimum number of teaching days per school year is 183 full school days for primary schools. The circular provides that this minimum number must be adhered to by all primary schools and for all classes within schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a new set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). One aspect of this Agreement relates to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is working closely with the relevant Local Authority in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with further information in relation to the ongoing work to acquire a site for the school at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 204 together. In June 2011, the Government decided to reduce the overall number of vocational education committees (VECs) from 33 to 16, to merge particular VECs, including the VECs covering counties of Longford and Westmeath, and to approve in principle the preparation of a new Bill to replace the existing VEC legislation. The VECs were dissolved on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 211, 213 and 215 together. In the context of the implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle the only subjects that will be "compulsory" are English, Mathematics and Irish. This decision has been taken to give schools the flexibiilty to develop their Junior Cycle programme mindful of the educational needs of their own students and mindful of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Individual higher education institutions have autonomous responsibility for the management of their staff resources. While teaching hour norms are specified under standard agreed contracts for academic staff in the institute of technology sector, in the case of the university sector there would be a variation of individual teaching loads as part of overall academic duties. I have made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is the responsiblity of the student to ensure that their application for a student grant is submitted before the deadline. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the closing date for the 2013/14 academic year of 5th August 2013 was further extended to 20th November, 2013. However, late applications are accepted by SUSI for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A permanent teacher, who holds a post of responsibility allowance, retains the allowance on a personal basis even if the post is subsequently not warranted by reference to the schedule of posts. However, the post holder must continue to perform duties while he/she continues to teach in the school. There will be no changes to the location of resource base posts for the 2014/15 school year....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. Applications to establish such classes are considered by the school's assigned Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) and those meeting the criteria for establishment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support. Where children have significant care needs whereby they may need additional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The new specifications for all subjects in the new Junior Cycle will state a minimum time for the delivery of the subject. This will be 200 hours for science and other subjects apart from English, Irish and Maths. This is not a maximum or target time and is intended to give schools flexibility to plan a Junior Cycle Programme that will meet the educational needs of their students. Schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Statistics (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this, material has been provided by the SEC for the first two parts of this question. Of the total of 4,861 superintendents appointed to the 2013 examinations, 1,016 were either substitute or unemployed teachers; some 1,049 superintendents were...