Results 4,941-4,960 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department approved funding to the school to which he refers for the provision of two classrooms for pupils with special needs. Subsequent engagement by my Department with the school resulted however in the project being withdrawn by my Department due to building design issues, the extent to which the school's plans exceeded the scope of the original...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (7 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: Schools Building Projects Status (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year Plan is focussed on meeting demographic demands to ensure that every child will have access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Regrettably, there have always been some delays in grants being awarded. While it has to be acknowledged that Student Universal Support Ireland, (SUSI) the new single awarding authority has had problems its first year of administration, the establishment of a single grant awarding body will serve our students better in the longer term.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Internationalisation Register (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Internationalisation Register is administered by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Education and Skills. Revised arrangements for the operation of the Register were implemented as of August 2012 and information on those arrangements, including the types of programmes eligible for inclusion and the process for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Office of Public Works (OPW) acts as an agent for all Government Departments, and is responsible for the provision of Government offices from the State portfolio or by lease agreement. The terms of the leases are a matter for the OPW. Accordingly, my Department is not in an ownership position as defined in the Multi-Unit Development Act 2011. In addition none of the bodies under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCCA is currently working on curriculum and assessment specifications for Physical Education at Senior Cycle. The new Framework for Junior Cycle, which I published last October, will enable schools not only to offer Physical Education but also to have it certified.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Education Strategy (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The United States is a priority market for the promotion of Ireland under the Government's International Education Strategy 2010-2015. Enterprise Ireland indicates that over 8,000 American students study in Ireland each year. Around 60% study in Irish higher education institutions, with the rest on US faculty-led programmes. Ireland remains the ninth largest destination for US students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (7 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: Summer Works Scheme Expenditure (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation, it is not possible for me to advance with a summer works programme in 2013. My Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place. To ensure that this is achieved, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Alternative Energy Projects (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: All new technologies and approaches are tested to ensure compatibility with school design and operational requirements. Successful and repeatable results are then incorporated into all new school designs and refurbishments. In 2006 the Department of Education & Skills commenced a unique project in relation to biomass energy use in schools to evaluate the suitable application and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that discussions are ongoing between officials in Co. Donegal VEC and my Department in relation to identifying a suitable site to cater for the proposed campus development to which he refers. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Short courses were originally suggested in the document "Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle" prepared by the NCCA. There was extensive consultation over many months with teachers and other stakeholders in relation to this document. The NCCA advice in relation to short courses was largely taken up by the Minister in the "Framework for Junior Cycle" published in October 2012. Some short...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following on from the recent publication of the results of the surveys of primary school patronage, I have written to the Catholic Patrons in the 23 areas where parental demand for change has been confirmed in the most recent surveys. This includes the area referred to by the Deputy. I have requested they now consider options for reconfiguring schools under their patronage in order to allow...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 arrangements for the coming school year 2013/14 are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. Individual school authorities are responsible for the drawing up of a school policy in relation to the wearing of school uniforms. However, my Department recommends that the formulation of such a school policy should allow for prior consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 2/5/2013 advising him that he was ineligible in relation to his grant application for 2012/13 academic year. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down in writing by SUSI, and remains of the view that SUSI has...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 schools, in order to ensure that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers within their own community. My Department therefore provides for a range of placement options and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The person to whom the Deputy refers has no entitlement to an occupational teachers pension from my department in respect of his teaching service. This was advised to him in correspondence from my Department on various occasions over a number of years. During his teaching service, membership of the secondary teachers pension scheme was open to him on a voluntary basis, however, the person to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998....