Results 3,001-3,020 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 316 and 317 together. The Report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government prioritises the integration of ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum. Where ICT is embedded in the curriculum it can serve to engage and motivate children in the learning process. It has proven to increase students' self-esteem and creates a more positive disposition towards learning as well as providing teachers with more up to date, exciting and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts to schools includes the provision whereby schools experiencing rapid increases in enrolment can apply for additional permanent mainstream posts on developing grounds, using projected enrolment. The staffing schedule also includes an appeals mechanism for schools to submit an appeal under certain criteria, including developing grounds, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government prioritises the integration of ICT in teaching and learning across the curriculum. Where ICT is embedded in the curriculum it can serve to engage and motivate children in the learning process. It has proven to increase students' self-esteem and creates a more positive disposition towards learning as well as providing teachers with more up to date, exciting and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The client for the Building project which included the facility referred to by the Deputy is Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education & Training Board (DDLETB). The ETB, through it's legal representatives, is engaged with the Contractor in relation to the defects identified with the facility. The ETB has also informed my Department that it is in discussions with the Local Authority for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am advised that a draft Local Area Plan is under development for the area in question and my officials will be making a submission in relation to the draft Plan. Given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not hold information on the numbers of pupils in individual schools who currently occupy temporary accommodation; this depends on the organisation of class groups by schools within available accommodation and may vary from year to year. Local school managements are responsible for organising their class numbers, year on year, to achieve the optimum local efficiencies. A...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I 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. I have referred the draft General Scheme and draft regulations to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, to allow a full public discussion of the proposed legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. In 2009 the Educational Research Centre carried out the most recent National Assessment of Mathematics and English Reading. The study looked at the achievement of children in second and sixth classes. The study asked a series of questions about reading for fun and reading at home as well as borrowing books from the library. Overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that demographic projections based on child benefit data in the Dublin 7 area indicates a requirement for up to 38 additional classrooms in the general area in the coming years. While most of that demand will be catered for by using current capacity in the existing schools in the area and also through the proposed expansion of some of those schools, the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support that the student referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by SUSI and advised to reapply as a dependent student. His new application will be processed when received.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Visiting Teacher Service for children with visual and hearing impairment (VTHVI) provides assistance for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and children who are blind/visually impaired. There are currently no plans in place to cut this service. In May 2013 the National Council for Special Education brought forward policy advice in which it recommended that the service should be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Services Provision (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were re-tendered last year under a public procurement competition. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 with the aim of ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Savings Measure 2014 F/Year  Reduction in allocation to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) €25m 0 Abolish €20 long-term unemployment bonus paid to FAS, VTOS and Youthreach participants (new entrants) €2m €7m Require FAS apprentices to pay pro-rata Student Services Charge...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Retirement Scheme (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 and 346 together. The following table shows the number of primary, secondary, community and comprehensive school teachers who retired and were awarded pensions, other than on reaching mandatory retirement age, for each of the calendar years 2006 - 2012. The figures for second level teachers do not include pensioned VEC teachers where the retirement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Springboard Programme Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Springboard programme strategically targets funding of free part-time flexible higher education courses for unemployed and previously self-employed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. 4,956 people enrolled on programmes under the first round of Springboard in 2011 and 5,575 people enrolled on programmes under the second...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy the application is currently being reviewed and the student will be notified directly of the outcome. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2012. This provides that the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (5 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. It has been included in the 5 year construction programme with a scheduled construction commencement in 2015/16. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2(b) submission which includes the securing of all statutory approvals and completion of tender documents....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Services Provision (24 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme are regularly reviewed so that schools have access to the best quality connectivity solutions affordable within the available resources. Contracts for these schools were re-tendered last...