Results 2,761-2,780 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I published the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector in April 2012 and I outlined my Action Plan in response to the Report in June 2012. My Department is implementing that Action Plan and progress is being made in a number of areas, including divesting of patronage in areas of stable population, inclusiveness...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Banking (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department facilitates payments in a number of different ways, principally via banking online through commercial bank accounts, via cheques, bank drafts and postal money orders. Within the Government sector my Department also facilitates payments from other Government Departments via the Office of the Pay Master General's system of Internal Fund Transfers. My Department has not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education Facilities (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school in question has a large General Purpose room as part of its suite of accommodation. It is open to the school authorities to utilise this facility for physical education purposes, including the activities to which the Deputy refers.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have been working closely with officials from South Dublin County Council in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for new school accommodation for the school to which he refers. Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on the matter at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006 and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision is on the development of a more inclusive school environment. This is undertaken through the whole school planning process, teaching practice, admissions policies, codes of behaviour and whole school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department are in receipt of a recent application from the school referred to seeking to replace three prefabricated classrooms. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the school seeking additional information. Once a response has been received, my Department will then be in a position to consider the application further.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. Private colleges operated on a for-profit basis are not listed as approved institutions for student grant purposes. However, tax relief on tuition fees may be available for students attending courses in private...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Teaching Council Act 2001 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility and authority for the registration of teachers. The conditions applied to a teacher's registration, and the time period allowed to meet those conditions, are notified to the teacher at the time of registration. A three-year period in which to meet registration conditions, including teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Generally my Department does not hold prefabs that are no longer required as a result of a permanent building being provided under the School Building Programme. Under the Prefab Replacement Initiative rented prefabs are returned to the rental companies from whom they were rented and in the case of purchased prefabs these are relocated to schools requiring additional accommodation if in good...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that no booklet has been sent to parents. It is my intention to publish a circular on the issue in question on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that I am taking an initiative to tackle the costs of uniforms by strengthening the role of parents in how schools decide their policies on uniforms. It is my intention to request school authorities to carry out a consultation process with parents. I will not be intervening in the dress codes that schools have put in place.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department does not recognise the working week for Special Needs Assistants as comprising of 28 hours per week. The position regarding the working hours of full-time SNAs is as outlined in the standard SNA contract of employment, which was agreed by this Department, the Trade Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU) representing SNAs and the Management Bodies in 2005. In that context, the standard SNA...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Policies (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Departments General Design Guidelines for both Primary and Post-primary schools provides for the preparation and landscaping of the area around the school and between the school and the site entrance. Such landscaping should be simple, cost effective and easy to maintain. An allowance for planting of trees and shrubs is included in the external works allowance. The arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Administration (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. Following detailed study of the demographic increases and the capacity of existing schools, my Department identified the need for the establishment of a new school to provide additional capacity for a 2 stream junior infant intake in the Ballinteer/ Stepaside area. Applications were invited from potential patrons for the new school....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The average cost of an SNA in the Secondary and community/comprehensive sector is €29,000 and €30,000 in the primary sector excluding the Employers PRSI contribution.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware, that the school was invited to participate in the Prefab Replacement Scheme II and I understand that the school authorities accepted this offer. This acceptance, involving the construction of a number of classrooms, represents the first Phase of development works at the school. In that regard, it is envisaged that schedules of accommodation will issue to the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Referendum Campaigns (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Returning Officers are statutorily responsible for the conduct of elections in the various constituencies and may, under electoral law, use school premises for this purpose. Where a school is used as a polling station for elections on a day on which the school was scheduled to be open, the school authorities concerned are allowed to count the day of polling as a day of exceptional closing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Referendum Campaigns (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Returning Officers are statutorily responsible for the conduct of elections in the various constituencies and may, under electoral law, use school premises for this purpose. Where a school is used as a polling station for a referendum or elections on a day on which the school was scheduled to be open, the school authorities concerned are allowed to count the day of polling as a day of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has an application with the Department for a major school project involving school refurbishment and the replacement of temporary accommodation. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including this project, is available on the Department's website at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a grant was awarded on the 13th of November and a letter has since issued to the student.