Results 4,461-4,480 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The five-year capital programme that was announced in 2012 listed 275 major projects and indicated that these projects would be delivered on a phased basis with initial priority being given to those projects identified for delivery in 2013 and 2014. The project referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the Office of Public Works (OPW) for delivery. A service level agreement between the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Various contributions and consultations have informed my Department's policy on the education of children with autism, which is based on the advice of international experts on autism, NEPS, the Inspectorate, an analysis of research and the report of the Irish Task Force on Autism. My Department is not aware of Applied Behaviour Analysis International. It has been and remains open to other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 282 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: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262, 230, 287 and 289 together. The Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 246 together. The authorities of Kilkenny College indicated that they were considering that the long term future of the College might be better secured by entering the Free Scheme. The Government is committed to supporting access of minority denomination communities to schools that are of their tradition or ethos. The provision made by Kilkenny...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Suspension (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: When the Minor Works Grant last issued in November 2011 for the school year 2011/2012, I stated that given the need to focus on meeting the demand for additional school places, it was unlikely that funding would be available for the Minor Works Grant in the coming years. This is borne out by the fact that in 2012, 85% of the capital expenditure in the school sector was in respect of large...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to again advise the Deputy that the policy in relation to siblings has not changed. Rather the application process in previous years may have in some instances failed to identify adequately multiple applications for siblings. My Department's Information Note for Home Based July Provision notes that allocations to siblings are reflective of the school grouping principle. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas Gaeilge (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Táthar tar éis Aonad a bhunú sa scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ó 2006 i leith chun oideachas trí Ghaeilge a sholáthar sa tsraith shóisearach. I gcás na scoile i gceist, sholáthraigh mo Roinnse acmhainní mar fhreagairt ar éileamh léirithe agus coinneoidh sí i gcónaí ar an scéal a athbhreithniú chun...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (11 Jun 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 Staffing (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that children with autism present with a wide range of needs. Some children are capable of being fully integrated into mainstream schools without additional teaching or care supports. Others are able to attend mainstream schools but need additional teaching and/or care assistance. Many are best enrolled in autism-specific classes where more intensive and supportive...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not facilitate the dual enrolment of children in schools. As such, SENO's can only allocate resources to schools in respect of those pupils enrolled in a school. However, dual placement arrangements are a regular feature of transitional plans for children who are transferring from one placement to another and should be managed locally by the relevant Boards of Management....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations to all second-level schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. In accordance with these rules each school is required to organise its subject options within the limit of its approved teacher allocation. The deployment of teaching staff, the range of subjects offered and ultimately the quality of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume the Deputy is referring to the withdrawal of certain funding from minority faith schools with effect from 1 January 2009, which realised an annual saving of €2.8 million to the Exchequer. These grants were withdrawn due to real concerns about the constitutionality of making grants available to fee-charging schools of one ethos and not to those of another. At second level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the schools to which the Deputy refers will commence operation in September 2013. Accommodation for the schools is currently being finalised in consultation with the school patrons.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department recently received correspondence from the schools in question relating to an amalgamation proposal. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 244, 254 and 295 together. While it is acknowledged that there were significant difficulties in the operation of the assessment processes last year, I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, in preparation for the 2013/2014 academic year, both the on-line application system and the application assessment process are being further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Figures for the 2012/2013 school year are not yet available. The costs for the 2011/2012 school year for Kilkenny College are set out below. Kilkenny College - Costs for the 2011/2012 school year Total Gross Teachers €3,072,585.00 SNAs €35,207.99 Clerical Officers €43,563.09 There was no capital expenditure paid to Kilkenny College in 2011/2012

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Equipment (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: A devolved grant was sanctioned for the school on the basis of the level of grant sought by the school, to which the Deputy refers, in November 2012 to facilitate its relocation to more suitable premises. The funding granted was to provide for toilets, play areas and other modifications. The school subsequently sought additional funding for works to comply with Fire Safety Regulations as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the establishment of a network of autism-specific special classes in schools across the country to cater for children with autism has been a key educational priority in recent years. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Value for Money Reviews (11 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The value for money review of small primary schools has been finalised. I recently received the report of the review and I am currently considering it.