Results 2,281-2,300 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Pension entitlements are based on the salary and allowances applying to the individual at the date of retirement. Where a person had the salary increase of 2.5% payable from 1 September 2008 withheld and who retired on the lower salary rate the 2.5% increase has not been applied to the pension entitlements regardless of whether they signed up to the EFT payment system after their date of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In June last year I formally asked the NCSE to prepare evidence based policy advice on the education of children with autism which would be informed by research and consultation. I specifically asked the NCSE to consult widely with parents, professionals, other stakeholders and interested parties in the preparation of this policy advice. I understand that the work has already commenced,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 271 together. The Enterprise Engagement Forum, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, provides for bi-annual dialogue between the Department and enterprise on education policy issues. Input from enterprise is also provided for through representation on boards and agencies across the education and training sector. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Funding has been ring-fenced for the implementation of the new Junior Cycle. The combined costs of curriculum and CPD support in a full year will be of the order of €10 million. The NCCA has prioritised the Junior Cycle in its workplan and is currently working on the subjects and short courses that will be phased in over the next number of years. A Junior Cycle for Teachers' Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCSE is currently undertaking two separate pieces of work around Autism. One is a systematic literature and country review of evidence relating to Educating Persons with Autism. The second is the preparation of policy advice on the educational provision for children with Autism which is being prepared at my request. The NCSE has advised that it expects the literature review to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The reason there is no dedicated office within my Department is that provision of funding and support for Irish medium education is a transversal responsibility involving many sections within the Department. An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) a body under the aegis of my Department which was founded under the provisions of Article 31 of the Education Act...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 278 together. There is no requirement that schools report incidents of bullying behaviour to my Department. The Deputy will be aware that I recently published new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools. These new procedures have been developed following consultation with the relevant education partners and replace...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reports (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Details in relation to consultants engaged by my Department are compiled annually in respect of the previous year. While the information in respect of 2013 has not yet been compiled I attach details of the amounts paid to consultants by my Department in 2011 and 2012. Details in relation to 2013 are currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as they are available....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 236 and 265 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. All Statutory Approvals have been received and the Design Team are working on the completion of stage 2(b) of Architectural Planning. Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Proposed Legislation (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that last September, I published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. These are available on my Department's website. The aim of these proposals is to ensure that the way schools decide on applications for enrolment is structured, fair and transparent. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239, 242, 253, 264 and 283 together. First let me clarify that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos 240 and 252 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Guidance Counsellors (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Guidance is a whole school activity and schools have autonomy on how best to prioritise their available resources to meet the requirements in relation to guidance and the provision of an appropriate range of subjects to students. This operates at local school level. The representative organisations for School Principals and school management developed a framework that assists schools on how...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been refused a grant as the course she is attending is not an approved course as defined under Article 4 (c) of the Student Support Regulations 2013 and Section 8 of the Student Support Act 2011. Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department of Education & Skills does not have an ongoing contract with the detailed firms in relation to consultancy. Payments to the two specified firms over the past two years is set out as follows. There were no payments to Accenture in 2012. In 2013, the consultancy services of Accenture were engaged by the Department in the context of the provision of professional advice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such schools. The Department is contacting primary schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Visiting Teacher Service for children with Visual and Hearing Impairment provides assistance for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and children who are blind or visually impaired. In May 2013 the National Council for Special Education brought forward policy advice which recommended that the service should be reviewed. Accordingly, an independent review of this service is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The total monies spent on the School Building Programme in 2012 and 2013 was as follows: YEAR AMOUNT 2012 €346.8m 2013 €361.3m Savings carried forward from 2012 to 2013 amounting to €10m were full spent in 2013. The 2013 outcome represents a saving of €5.6m or less than 2% of the overall sum allocated for schools. This sum was spent on higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (21 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. It is my intention to...