Results 6,021-6,040 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In reaching this decision, I paid particular attention to the context of our support not only for the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 - 2030 but also to the Education Act, 1998, to the implementation of the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the recommendations in the Literacy and Numeracy for Learning and Life - The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy among Children and Young...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application from the student in question is being reviewed and it will notify the student directly of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Schooling (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The school system currently operates under standardised arrangements for all recognised schools aimed at enabling them to deliver education in the most efficient manner possible to over half a million pupils at primary level and over 350,000 at post-primary. It would neither be feasible nor practical to put in place the type of arrangement suggested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The position as provided to my Department by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is that as at 29th January 2013, 33 applicants were awarded a student grant, issued a grant award letter and subsequently refused a grant. The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of SUSI having received in excess of 67,000 applications that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The contract of employment for Special Needs Assistants was agreed following discussions between the representatives of the managerial authorities, the Unions (IMPACT and SIPTU) and my Department. The terms of the contract are outlined in the contract of employment form contained in Circular SNA 15/05 for primary schools or Circular SNA 12/05 for second level schools. Furthermore, Special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department supports any measures which will have a beneficial effect on employment generally and in particular employment in a local area. As with all Government Departments and state agencies, my Department and bodies under its aegis use the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's Public Works Contracts and associated guidance. It is therefore considered that the implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Playground Spaces (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of playspace, where site conditions and circumstances allow, is one of the issues considered in the architectural design of new schools and major extensions. The level of facilities, including playspace, that can be provided in schools will therefore vary depending on the extent of classroom accommodation needed for the school. A suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Start Programme (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be pleased to hear that, currently, there are no cuts planned for the Early Start Programme he is referring to in Dublin 17.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my Department – some €1.3 billion – was provided to support children with Special Educational Needs in 2012. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that all of the annual expenditure on special educational needs is subject to monitoring and review by my Department and/or agencies under its aegis. All expenditure is also subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor Generals Office, while Departmental spending is examined independently each year by the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Incidence (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. In relation to the number of pupils with intellectual disability who are enrolled in primary and post primary schools, I wish to advise the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for a continuum of special educational provision to be made available for children with special educational needs, so that regardless of the level of need of the child, educational provision can be made for them. My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a formal role under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 to advise me as Minister in relation to any matter relating to the education of children and others with disabilities. The NCSE have been asked to provide comprehensive policy advice on how the education system can...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In view of the over-riding objective of ensuring that every child has access to a physical school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Five Year school building programme is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In order therefore to prioritise...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that participation in my Department's July Provision Scheme is an option for all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism or severe to profound general learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. The position in relation to the provision of this scheme in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the documentation initially supplied by the student in question in support of her grant application was incomplete and a request for the further documentation issued in November 2012. SUSI has no record of receiving the birth certificate before January 2013. SUSI wrote again to the student on 15th...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (30 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, a project for the school to which he refers is included in the 5 Year construction programme that I announced in March 2012. It is my Department's intention that this project will proceed to construction in 2015/16. My Department are liaising with the school in this regard. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including the school in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following initial submission of a grant application, students progressing to the next stage of the assessment process are issued with a checklist of documentary evidence which they need to provide in order to complete their application. This checklist is tailored from the specific information provided on the student's application. The checklist outlines the supporting documentation required...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Anti-Racism Measures (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Framework for Junior Certificate, published in October 2012, is underpinned by the 8 principles, 8 key skills and 24 Statements of Learning. Taking these on board, each school will have the flexibility to develop their junior cycle programme to meet the needs of their students. One of the 8 principles in the Framework is "Inclusive Education". This will require that "The educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Student Universal Support Ireland has confirmed that the applicant referred to by the Deputy appealed the decision on her grant with regard to the rate of grant awarded and that a letter on the appeal issued on 23rd January, 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 interpreted correctly in...