Results 4,081-4,100 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Further to my response to the Deputy's earlier Parliamentary Question No. 235 of 12th March 2013, it has not been possible to progress the implementation of a cost effective online payslip system for school employees and pensioners, in the intervening period, due to other priorities. Since March of this year, there have been significant developments to the school employee/pensioner payrolls,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The attached table details the number of students awarded maintenance that have yet to be paid, as on 2nd July, 2013, for the 2012/13 academic year by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). SUSI has confirmed that those yet to be paid are students that were awarded in June, but are awaiting confirmation of registration from the college or students who were awarded, or/and who have not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that some 702 students applied for support to pursue a course of study outside of the State in 2012/13. The Deputy will be aware that the provision of information and decisions on student grants are operational matters for SUSI rather than for my Department. While some students may have had the impression that a grant award would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Accenture Report, which reviewed the operations of SUSI, contained a series of recommendations, many of which are already being implemented by SUSI. In line with these recommendations and in preparation for the 2013/14 academic year, both the online application system and the application assessment process have been further developed to enhance their effectiveness and to deal with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Persons in receipt of the supplementary welfare allowance may apply for a student grant. Assuming that students satisfy all of the relevant terms and conditions of the student grant scheme, eligible students on this payment qualify for the standard rate of grant and student contribution or fees where applicable. Supplementary welfare allowance is not an eligible payment for the special rate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Framework for Action for the Inclusion of Children with Special Needs in Early Childhood Education Settings was developed as a research project by Mary Immaculate in Limerick. The Framework has formed the basis for a Certificate in Inclusive Care and Education which is a Level 6 Special Purpose Award designed to provide those working with young children with the specific body of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Minister Fitzgerald and I published an Action Plan on Bullying on 29th January which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. I have ring-fenced €500,000 to support implementation of the Action Plan this year. Officials from my Department have commenced work on the implementation of the actions. In particular, an awareness...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including Resource Teaching support for children with more complex special needs. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for Castleknock Community College is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, stage 2b. Further clarification on the stage 2(b) submission was recently received by the Department from the school authority and this is currently under review. Authorisation has been given to commence the pre-qualification process for contractors. On satisfactory completion of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 317 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the level of resources devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been maintained at €1.3 billion this year. This includes provision for 10,575 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and nearly 10,000 Learning Support and Resource Teachers. These resources have been protected...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with an ineligibility letter on 15th August 2012. Following an appeal to SUSI and subsequent requests for supporting documentation, a decision on the appeal was issued on 8th April 2013 advising her that she was deemed ineligible to receive a grant....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (2 Jul 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 resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Further to the encouragement of the Ombudsman for Children last year and mindful that greater clarity on my Department's policy on the education of children with autism would be useful for schools and parents, my Department is currently in the process of preparing a comprehensive statement of existing policy within the boundaries of one document. This process is ongoing. My Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's position is that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Applied Behavioural Analysis, or ABA, is one of the approaches used in special classes for children with autism. The use of ABA as part of the range of interventions is particularly useful for addressing behavioural issues. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 28th May 2013 advising her that she was deemed ineligible to receive a grant. I understand from SUSI that incomplete documentation had been received. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that there are a small number of applications awaiting a decision, and the turnaround time on receipt of outstanding documentation is two to three working days. There a number of appeals in the system also which are being prioritised. Many of the recommendations in the Accenture report on the review of SUSI's system have already...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in this year's budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of the budget.The criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Expenditure (2 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The position is that higher education institutions, including universities such as Trinity College Dublin, are autonomous bodies and their day to day operational affairs including issues such as the provison of online courses are the responsibility of the management authority and governing body of the University. However, I understand that the HEA has been in contact with the college and...