Results 2,781-2,800 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

Ruairi Quinn: I have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that a breakdown of data is currently not available on a county by county basis. As at close of business on 24th November, 2013 for the 2013/14 academic year 68,073 new applications and 23,495 renewal application had been received by SUSI. Of these 31,931 new applications have been awarded or provisionally awarded and 20,017...

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

Ruairi Quinn: An appeal from the student in question was considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 24th September, 2013. I understand that Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) was requested to review this application by the Board. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application is currently being reassessed and the student...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that all schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs, including Specific Learning Disability (SLD), of which dyscalculia is one such Specific Learning Disability. All mainstream Primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model (GAM)...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, or where a special school or special...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused and has been appealed to SUSI. The appeal will be dealt as soon as possible and the student will be informed directly of the outcome. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. My Department recognises that specialised training and continued professional development (CPD) is important for staff working with children with special educational needs and supports the provision of CPD...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that my officials have been working closely with officials from Kildare County Council in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the proposed new school accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. Work is continuing to acquire an identified site and as previously advised, agreement in principle, subject to contract, has been reached. Given the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the terms of circular 008/2013 titled "Public Sector-Wide review of Allowances and Premium Payments" the person referred to by the Deputy lost her entitlement to the allowance in question when she commenced in a new job role after 1 February 2012. A teacher cannot gain or regain entitlement to this allowance on or after 1 February 2012, as the allowance was withdrawn for new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 to 246, inclusive, together. The position is that from the current academic year students who acquire EEA citizenship during their course of third level studies may be eligible for free fees for the remainder of their studies subject to certain conditions. Where students do not meet the terms of the free fees schemes, including nationality, it is the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Health and Safety Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the provisions of the Education Act, 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. In managing the schools, Boards are required to comply with the relevant provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Rules for National Schools and the terms of Circulars issued by my Department. Schools also have a responsibility under the Safety, Health and...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Since 2010 only three application for funding have been received under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to have refurbishment works carried out as a result of flood damage. All schools building that are not covered by state indemnity are required to adequately insure their school premises including insurance for flood damage and if any of these schools were to be flooded my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Weight of Schoolbags (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department issued Circular M35/05 in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem. The circular referred to the recommendations of the previously published report of the Working Group on the Weight of School Bags. This report acknowledged that many of the solutions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Student Assistance Fund is a component of the Third Level Access Measure which is managed on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority and comprises two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The overall value of the measure for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m. The management of the Third Level Access Measure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the Junior and Leaving certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme is available...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. In the period referred to by the Deputy, 15 amalgamated primary schools have been established involving 30 primary schools. Of the 30 schools concerned, 10 schools had a staffing of 4 teachers or less at the time of amalgamation of which 1 was a 1 teacher school, 6 were 2 teacher schools, 2 were 3 teacher schools and 1 was a 4 teacher...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together. The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. 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...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts 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. Preparation for the staffing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Board Remuneration (26 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which was established in 2003 is a Statutory Body with the structure and functions set out in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004. The EPSEN Act provides that the Council shall comprise 13 members including one Chairperson, all of whom are appointed by the Minister. The Council members do not receive any...

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 the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy is currently under review and the student will be informed directly of the outcome of the review.

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in the case of both students referred to by the Deputy their applications are currently being assessed and SUSI will be in contact with them directly regarding the outcome.