Results 4,881-4,900 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that one of the actions set out in the "Action Plan on Bullying – Report of the Anti-Bullying Working Group" which was published in January 2013 requires that my Department, in consultation with the relevant education partners, will revise the existing anti-bullying guidelines for schools and have new national anti-bullying procedures in place for the 2013/14...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, I published an Action Plan on Bullying in January last. Taking into account all of the research reviewed and submissions and presentations received, the Anti-Bullying Working Group that produced the Action Plan did not recommend a particular anti-bullying programme, however, they did recommend nine principles that should underpin a schools approach to preventing and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down syndrome, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Representations (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 276 together. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was ineligible for the special rate of maintenance grant as the reckonable income exceeded the threshold of €22,703. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Health and Safety Issues (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department put in place an Occupational Health Strategy as a supportive resource for teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs), to promote their health in their workplace, with a focus primarily on prevention rather than cure. The Occupational Health Strategy comprises of the Employee Assistance and Occupational Health Services. Medmark Occupational Healthcare is the current provider...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 274, 288 and 294 together. The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down syndrome, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2(b) Submission which will then be submitted to the Department for review. Planning Permission, Disability Access and Fire Safety Certificates have all been secured. Following approval of the Stage 2b submission and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2b submission was received in the Department recently for review. Following the review of the stage 2(b) submission and assuming no issues arise, the Department will then contact the Board of Management regarding the further progression of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has sought the assistance of, and is working closely with, Kildare County Council, the relevant Local Authority, in relation to identifying and acquiring a suitable site for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school to which he refers. As the Deputy will be aware, negotiations are at an advanced stage. Given the sensitivities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The schools to which the Deputy refers were delivered as part of a Bundle of 4 schools that were provided through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) progamme. The remaining 2 schools were delivered in Co. Offaly. As the entire Programme or Bundle - referred to as Bundle 1 - constitutes a single contract with the PPP provider, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible to disaggregate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (14 May 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: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for an extensive range of supports to assist pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing. I can confirm that there are currently 11 special classes for pupils with hearing impairment attached to mainstream primary schools, 5 special class at post-primary level and 3 special schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The current status of all projects, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year. In determining projects that were announced to proceed to construction during the 5 Year Plan, both new school building projects as well as major extensions to existing schools have been prioritised on the basis of meeting demographic needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the position relating to the school in question is, as I outlined to him in my response to his question of 8th May last.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that Special Schools funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the Department of Health/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has had his application reviewed and was issued with a decision that he was eligible for 50% fees on the 1st March 2013. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI and remains of the view that the scheme has not been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Public sector numbers returns are made on a quarterly basis. As at 31 March 2013 (end Q1 2013) there were 93,624 whole-time equivalent staff employed in the Education sector. This figure includes civil servants and staff employed in NCSAs (Non commercial state agencies) that come under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills. The table provides details requested by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that requested documentation was not furnished within the timeframe set out in a communication with the applicant. The applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 2/5/2013 advising her that she was ineligible to receive a grant and her application was cancelled. If an individual...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has no record of having received an application for funding for roof repairs under the Emergency Works Scheme from the school in question. Should an application be received it will be assessed and the school authorities will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not accept the allegations made regarding redeployment panels. The core function of the redeployment panels at primary level is to enable the redeployment of teachers who are surplus in one school to another school that has a vacancy. Under the panel arrangements, the most junior eligible permanent teacher in a school with surplus teaching staff is placed on the panel for...