Results 2,521-2,540 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (17 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I have asked my officials to liaise directly with the Deputy on the issue in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts (17 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 259 together. In addition to the spend on IT consultancy services, the IT unit of my Department engages contract staff and external service providers to provide specialist technical support and to deliver specific projects where needed. The total spend on external staff (consultancy, contractors and external service providers) was as follows:- ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Costs (17 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Legal costs incurred by the State, in defending those cases which are brought to court, are generally not met directly by my Department. In accordance with financial procedures in cases involving damages or compensation against the State, legal costs are generally charged to the Chief State Solicitor's Office Vote as sanctioned by the Attorney General. My Department does not generally...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (17 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that I have recently published a draft General Scheme for an Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, 2013 as well as draft regulations for discussion ahead of enacting legislation. The aim of these proposals is to ensure that the way schools decide on applications for enrolment is structured, fair and transparent.I have referred the draft General Scheme and draft...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: An application to provide outside shelters on the grounds of the school to which the Deputy refers is eligible for funding under the Summer Works Scheme (category 10 - external environment). Commensurate with the level of funding available for the Scheme, applications are assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the Circular accompanying the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 68 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The main financial support available to students attending further education is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. It currently operates on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 28 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. As part of the Budget 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 76 together. The Deputies 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the selection and enrollment of pupils is the responsibility 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. It is my firm view that all schools should be inclusive. In that regard, The Deputy will also be aware that I have recently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The terms of the sick leave scheme for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools is set out by my Department in circular letter 0060/2010. This circular were agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The Council is composed of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Child Care Education Issues (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Early Intervention Classes for Autism are established in primary schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The classes are part of the schools and pupils enrolled in these classes are included on the school roll. My Department's policy is to facilitate the enrolment of pupils with autism in Early Intervention classes in primary schools from the age of three years. While...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Fee Paying Schools (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of gross salary paid to teachers, Special Needs Assistants and Clerical Officers in fee paying schools is set out in the attached table. The information in respect of capital expenditure is being assimilated and will be forwarded to the Deputy. The table is available as attachment Q75.xls at the top of the web page.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application of the student referred to by the Deputy, is under review and the student will be notified shortly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Preschool Services (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is working closely with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to deliver on the Government's pre-school quality agenda. This agenda includes the establishment of a national support service for the early years sector. At the moment, the supports in place for the early years sector include D/CYA funded organisations (whether wholly or partly) such as the Voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Years Strategy Implementation (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Early Years Education Policy Unit is co-located with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to ensure that policies relating to early years care and education are aligned. My Department has agreed with the D/CYA that the Early Years Education Policy Unit will contribute as appropriate on all aspects of the Early Years Strategy relating to the Education remit. My Department will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In developing policies, my Department looks at the continuum of education from a child's earliest years through to pre-school, the formal education system and further/higher education/self directed learning as part of a life-long learning agenda. Policies relating to early years and pre-school are interwoven into policies and not developed in isolation. This can be seen in the Literacy and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (12 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. 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 previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Dec 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. As both Deputies said, I am familiar with the issue. It has been brought to my attention. I thank both Deputies for outlining the situation and indicating that there is a great deal of concern about the location of this school. The new school building will see some 800 students benefit from state of the art classrooms and facilities. Eureka...