Results 18,821-18,840 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Overseas Students Data (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government is strongly committed to promoting Ireland as a centre for international education through implementation of Investing in Global Relationships: Ireland's International Education Strategy and rollout of the Education in Ireland brand internationally by Enterprise Ireland. Since the publication of the strategy, there has been 36% growth in full-time non-EEA students in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Construction Contracts (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In relation to one of the sites recently brought to my attention I understand that officials from Social Protection, Revenue and NERA carried out a site inspection at the end of May and I understand that Social Protection will be taking appropriate follow-up action arising. As the Deputy is aware my Department appointed Contractors Administration Services (CAS), to conduct random audits on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: An Grianán Training Centre was included in the original Schedule to the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002 which specified the institutions for the purposes of the Redress Scheme. Applicants had a period of up to 3 years, until 15 December 2005, to apply to the Redress Board. However, section 8 of the 2002 Act allowed the Board to extend this period in exceptional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Autism Support Services (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Last year, at my request, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) commenced preparation of policy advice on the education of children with autism. The advice will be delivered in the spring of 2015 and will draw upon findings gathered from the extensive consultation process with parents, schools, professional service providers and other stakeholders which has already commenced and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fee Paying Schools (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government's focus in recent years has been on operating a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. One aspect of the budgetary decisions was to increase the pupil teacher ratio for fee-charging schools. This reflects the fact that fee-charging schools have resources, through fees charged, to employ teachers privately. Given that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In June 2011, I announced that some 20 new post-primary schools would be established across the country up to 2016 to meet demographic needs. This announcement did not include a new post-primary school for Swords. My Department is currently reviewing demographics on a nationwide basis, which will include the Swords area, to determine where additional post-primary schools will be needed from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Anti-Bullying Procedures (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: When the new anti-bullying procedures for schools were published last September, it was acknowledged that schools would need time to develop an anti-bullying policy in line with the new procedures. Accordingly the accompanying circular allowed schools a period up to the Easter break of this year to make the necessary arrangements, including consultations with the school community, for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am advised by the State Examinations Commission that the Leaving Certificate results are issued 7.5 weeks after the written examinations in June. Following each days examinations the candidates' scripts are returned to the SEC offices before being despatched to the examining team for marking. The marking schemes must be finalised and examiners trained before commencing to mark. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Statistics (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I have already asked the Teaching Council, the professional standards body for teachers, for advice on the matter of teacher supply and demand. The Council is currently working to provide that advice with the overall goal of ensuring that there is timely information to inform the system generally and for planning in my Department. The Teaching Council has approved a roadmap and will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In 2013 my Department spent some €1.3 billion supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs. This represents approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. This Government has continued to protect resources for Special Education and in some areas there have been increases in 2014, despite the ongoing severe financial position continuing to face the country. An initial...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Expenditure supporting pupils with Special Educational Needs was some €1.3bn in 2013, which represents approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department. These resources have been protected, or in some areas have been increased in 2014 to take into account increased demand and demographic growth, despite the ongoing severe financial position and a requirement to make expenditure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my Department's intention to provide improved accommodation for Gaelscoil Phádraig in the building currently occupied by Ballyowen Meadows Special School. This building will be vacated following the completion of the building project to construct a new school for Ballyowen Meadows. Planning Permission for the new Ballyowen Meadows school project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The specific information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department fully recognises the key role of physical exercise within the school environment and continues to respond to the need to improve PE facilities for all pupils attending schools within the constraints of the available funding. I also wish to advise the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Statistics (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government has prioritised, as best as possible, the filling of front-line posts in the Education sector within the constraints of the Employment Control Framework. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria. The main priority for the foreseeable future is targeting resources to cater for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that County Kildare has been identified as an area of significant demographic growth. My Department's 5 Year Plan prioritises major school projects to meet this demand. During the period 2012 -2016, eleven new schools are being provided across the County together with 14 major extension projects. My Department will also consider applications from individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Issues (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that by 30th June, Caranua had received 2,921 applications and had made 368 payments in respect of 118 applicants. The first stage of the application process involves verifying an applicant's eligibility and proof of identity. Once confirmed applicants are contacted by one of Caranua's Application Advisers, who discusses their needs and how Caranua can meet those needs. While...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) administers the Student Grant Scheme on behalf of my Department. The Student Grant Scheme provides that in order to qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions: 1. Reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 2. On the 31st December of the relevant period the reckonable income must include an eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Establishment (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A building project for the first school to which the Deputy refers is currently in architectural planning. An application for planning permission is currently being prepared and this will be submitted to the local authority shortly. This building project has been included on the Department's 5 year construction plan and my Department will be in contact with the school shortly regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: 39 small primary schools are losing a classroom post for the coming school year due to the increased pupil thresholds announced in Budget 2012. The loss of a classroom post in 12 of these schools is due to the final phase of the Budget 2012 measure. The loss of a classroom post in each of the other 27 schools is due to the effect of the earlier phase of the Budget 2012 measure combined with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (8 Jul 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 qualifying children. My Department recently issued Circular 30/2014, which sets...