Results 6,041-6,060 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Where schools are amalgamating there is a provision for the allocation of a concessionary mainstream teaching post in cases where the approved number of mainstream teachers serving in the schools at the time the amalgamation takes place exceeds the number of mainstream posts warranted by the total enrolment on the basis of the staffing schedule. The continued allocation of the concessionary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that as part of my response to the Patronage Forum Advisory Group Report, I indicated that I would issue a call for submissions on the findings and recommendations in the report on promoting greater inclusiveness in primary schools and that a leaflet for parents would be developed in consultation with the National Parents Council Primary. Work has been ongoing on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together. This survey initiative follows on from the recommendations of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. Pilot surveys on primary school patronage were conducted late last year in five areas: Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall (including Kilmore West & Beaumont). A report on the pilot surveys is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The following criteria were applied in selecting locations for the parental surveys: 1. Areas with a population of greater than 5,000 persons and less than 20,000 persons, as per the 2011 Census. 2. Areas that did not experience greater than 20% growth in the inter-censal period 2006-2011 and where the establishment of new schools is unlikely to emerge until at least 2016. 3. Areas that have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012 last, 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 position to cope with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Road Safety (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The matter of road safety measures outside the vested site areas of schools on public roads, such as road signage, traffic calming measures etc., is a matter for the relevant Local Authority. Local Authorities have the power to decide on road safety measures outside schools to ensure that measures are in place to protect the safety of local school children. Due to competing demands on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (29 Jan 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 22nd January, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The location in County Kildare referred to by the Deputy was removed from the original list of areas to be surveyed following consultation with patrons. The location already has an Educate Together school that opened in September 2011 and a new Gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Patrunachta will commence there in September 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Five of the schools built through Bundle 2 of the Public Private Partnership process were provided with Special Needs Units. One of those schools was equipped with furniture, fittings and equipment having regard to the specific needs of that school. The net cost of providing this equipment was €173,636.70 plus additional ancillary costs of €34,217.32 (exc. VAT). A second...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (29 Jan 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 23rd November 2012.

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

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland that, based on the information supplied by the student in question in his application, additional supporting documentation is required. SUSI will be in contact with the student shortly in relation to this matter.

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

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland that it has been in contact with the student in question in relation to his grant application, which will progressed as speedily as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (29 Jan 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 schools that are not in a position to admit all pupils seeking entry to implement an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I have arranged for the matter raised by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The project referred to by the Deputy is proposed to provide a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school. The Design Team appointment has now been completed and the project will commence Architectural Planning. The project was included in the 5 year construction programme announced in March 2012 and is scheduled to progress to construction in 2015/16.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Substance Abuse Prevention Education (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Substance abuse prevention education is implemented as part of the Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) curricula. SPHE is mandatory in all primary and post-primary schools up to Junior Certificate level. A full time support service offers professional development to teachers and advice to schools. The second level support service is operated jointly with the Health Sector. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Substance Abuse Prevention Education (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department of Education and Skills, through Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) and its substance abuse prevention education, contributes to the overall aim of Government policy in relation to drugs and alcohol which is to provide an effective, integrated response to the problems posed by substance abuse. Substance abuse prevention education is implemented as part of the SPHE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Arrangements to establish the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board are being pursued and I intend to appoint the members to the Board shortly. The position of Chief Executive Officer (Designate) was recently advertised by the Public Appointments Service and I look forward to the early appointment of a suitably qualified individual, whose responsibilities will include driving the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (29 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The project is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The tender report was recently submitted to my Department for review. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that work will commence on site later this year and will be completed in quarter 2.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (29 Jan 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...