Results 5,041-5,060 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I published a report entitled "Fee Charging Schools - Analysis of Fee Income" in respect of the discretionary income available to the 55 fee charging schools in the country.I commissioned the report in question in order to inform future budgetary decisions in relation to the allocation of teachers to schools in particular. I do not propose at this stage to anticipate any specific decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in question, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. and this is being updated regularly throughout the year. As the Deputy will be aware, the school is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Pupil-Teacher ratio at first level is calculated by dividing total enrolment in all aided First Level Schools (including Special Schools) as of 30th September in a given year by the number of teaching posts in June of the following year. Total number of teachings posts include a whole-time equivalent of part-time teachers as well as all types of teachers from walking principals to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Universities Act 1997 universities are autonomous statutory bodies and the management and operation of their facilities is therefore the responsibility of the college authorities. Accordingly I have no function in relation to access to the library of the university in question. I understand that the university in question has various arrangements in place for non-members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants Eligibility Criteria (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending arrangements in different households. In the interest of equity,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that, in primary schools, teaching supports for pupils with special educational needs are provided in two ways. Under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, schools are resourced to cater for pupils whose educational psychological assessment places them in the high incidence, or less complex, disability category, including children...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school to which he refers has an application with my Department for large scale capital funding. The current status of all schools on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: An official from my Department was in contact with the person referred to by the Deputy with a view to resolving the queries raised by him.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its local Special Education Needs Officers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes or units in various geographical areas as necessary. It is general practice for my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing arrangements for the 2013/14 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0013/2013 which is available on my Department's website. Following the Government's decision of 21 February 2012, the school to which the Deputy refers was among the schools which retained disadvantaged legacy posts from previous disadvantage schemes. As the Deputy may be aware, a range of factors...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: In-service Training (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not employ retired principals or deputy principals for the purposes of the provision of in service training for teachers. However, I understand that a number of qualified teachers, including retired principals, are employed on a part time basis through Blackrock Education Centre to assist national support services to deliver CPD for schools in identified priority areas in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Recruitment (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume the Deputy is referring to public servants who retired before 29 February 2012 with their pensions calculated by reference to their salary prior to the introduction of the FEMPI (No. 2) Act 2009. No specific terms and conditions were applied to this group of retired public servants compared to other retired public servants. My Department has introduced measures to minimise the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (24 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application from the student in question is being reviewed and SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome shortly.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Is it located on the main road, on the right hand side?

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: It is on the left hand side as one drives to Letterkenny.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Schools Building Projects (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am familiar with the school. Every by-election brings strangers to a constituency and one ends the campaign as an expert on every back alley and lane. I know the school and church well. I am glad for the Senator's illumination of the opportunity to build a decent school. There is no question about the unsatisfactory nature of the existing school and I concur with everything that he has...

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am prompted to respond since I have been showered with flattery and appreciation. We seldom pay tribute to those who do the work, and this massive Bill involved nine primary pieces of legislation and at least 640 statutory instruments. The person who did all of this work, Mr. Dalton Tattan, is sitting behind me and I would like to record to show that we as legislators are indebted to his...

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: On Committee Stage, I indicated that further consideration was needed on the best way to deal with accounting for the current year where part of 2013 will relate to the time of the VECs and the remainder of the year will relate to the new bodies. The purpose of amendment No. 7 is to amend the accounts provision so that the 1 April date for submission of accounts each year to the Comptroller...

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In response to Senator Mooney's understandable compassionate intervention on behalf of acting CEOs, it may seem a little unjust that there are 13 who were acting CEOs but there is a rational explanation for it. The previous Administration embarked on reform and rationalisation of a series of public agencies, including the VECs. It was my predecessor, former Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, who, in the...

Seanad: Education and Training Boards Bill 2012: Report and Final Stages (23 Apr 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: On Committee Stage, Senator Bacik raised a drafting issue. She pointed to a potential inconsistency between two sections. In section 30(1)(c), parents representatives have to be either parents of children under 18 years who are students in schools and centres for education or parents of learners of any age in children detention schools, prisons, etc. However, the Senator felt it was not...