Results 4,901-4,920 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Details of overtime payments made by my Department in respect of political/Ministerial appointees for the period 2007 to date are set out as follows. Overtime is not paid to officials or staff at the Grade of Secretary General or Ministerial Adviser. - Political/Ministerial Appointee 2007 2008 Overtime 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Minister: - - - - - - - - Many Hanafin Paula Power...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Building Regulations Compliance (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: It is standard design philosophy of my Department that all new facilities are laid out to cater for persons with varying degrees of physical ability and they must not be disadvantaged by design limitations. Accordingly, access for all must be provided in all new buildings and must be in accordance with current building regulations.

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

Ruairi Quinn: The management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy recently submitted an appeal in relation to an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to replace windows at their school. This application is currently being assessed and when completed the school authorities will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware my Department sought the assistance of, and is working closely with, Kildare County Council in relation to the identification and acquisition of a site for the provision of permanent accommodation for the school to which he refers. I can advise the Deputy that a suitable site has been identified. While negotiations are at an advanced stage with the relevant...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department recently approved funding to the school to which he refers to construct two mainstream classrooms and resource rooms. Earlier this year, my officials met with the school's representatives in the context of the school's long term accommodation needs. The school undertook to consider the projected enrolment numbers for the area and revert...

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

Ruairi Quinn: My officials have been engaged over a prolonged period in dealing with extensive communication from the correspondent to whom the Deputy refers. This correspondence has outlined in detail my Department's policy on the education of children with autism. My officials are currently in the process of preparing a comprehensive statement of existing policy on autism within the boundaries of one...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The salaries of teachers employed within the approved annual staffing allocation for fee charging schools by my Department are paid by the State; an arrangement that pre-dates the introduction of the Free Education scheme and which exists since the foundation of the State. The estimated cost of these posts is in the order of €100m. The Deputy will be aware that in the context of the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that, as at close of business on 13th May 2013, it had received 2,557 student grant applications for Co. Kerry, for attendance at both further and higher education. The information in relation to the number of students that have been paid grants and college fees to date for Co. Kerry is not currently available, however, some 1,548...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The restraint method to which the Deputy has referred has not been brought the attention of my Department. The Special Education Support Service of my Department provides training in the use of certain methodologies in managing behaviours. The models which are utilised by the SESS are in line with the models identified by the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD). If the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Preschool Services (14 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The intention of my comments was to raise a debate on how, in the current fiscal climate, an extension of the universal free pre-school year might be financed. There are no decisions or proposals on the table regarding cuts in child benefit. Research shows that high quality pre-school education delivers lasting benefits in terms of better academic attainment and socio-behavioural outcomes,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that Athlone Institute of Technology have withdrawn the notice to students with outstanding fees in relation to sitting their end of year exams. As the Deputy will be aware SUSI are unable to finalise an application until all the necessary information has been provided by the applicant as required under the Student Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Irish Research Council (IRC) was officially established from 19th March 2012, through the merger of the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences (IRCHSS) and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). The IRC continues the various activities and funding programmes of the two previous Councils. Its broad remit is to support and enhance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 2nd May, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (9 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: School Staffing (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 to 90, inclusive, together. I have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education (ITE). The purpose of the report was to identify possible new structures to improve initial teacher education in Ireland so that it is comparable with the best in the world....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Expenditure (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that in the context of Budget 2012, I announced a three year phased adjustment to increase the relevant pupil thresholds for small schools with four teachers or less. The staffing arrangements in small primary schools are considerably more favourable than other medium to larger schools. As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, the number of pupils required to gain and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that reasonable accommodations for students with special educational needs, who are taking State examinations, may include the provision of a reader or scribe, subject to the conditions set out by the State Examinations Commission, which are available at www.examinations.ie. Such accommodations are specific to participation in state examinations and are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Schemes (8 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Springboard is a specific initiative that provides part time higher education places for unemployed people in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or employment opportunities. All courses approved for funding under Springboard are selected by an independent panel with industry and educational expertise, having regard to published selection criteria and...