Results 6,201-6,220 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, the initiative for an amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of Management and in particular, the Patron. The decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. The Deputy will also be aware that the staffing arrangements in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, the majority of support for pre-school provision is funded by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. My Department's role is to work in partnership with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to improve the quality of pre-school provision. My Department has funded two sets of national practice guidelines that have been developed to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is not aware of any issues relating to Collon National School. Following receipt of the Deputy's question, my officials contacted the school directly to clarify the position and the school confirmed this to be the case.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: School authorities are advised in the staffing schedule, which is published annually on my Department's website, to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as possible, taking all relevant contextual factors into account (e.g. classroom accommodation, fluctuating enrolment etc.). In particular, they should ensure, as far as possible, that there is an equitable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is investigating the case referred to by the Deputy and will forward any relevant information available to the Department of Social Protection as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Resource Teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. SENOs also make recommendations to my Department where assistive technology support is required. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The most significant adjustment to teacher pay arising from the recent Government decision on allowances is that new entrant teachers will not receive qualification allowances but will start on a new salary scale, the first point of which is equivalent to the fourth point of the existing scale. This new salary scale will apply in the case of all teachers who are new appointees to teaching on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Department's web-site, currently provide for a standard range of accommodation and equipment to be provided in all new schools irrespective of delivery method.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that in September 2012, a new school, under the patronage of Educate Together was established to meet the demographic needs of the area. The school currently operates in a former school property. It is the Department's intention to provide a permanent school building for the school and the procurement of a site for this purpose is currently in train. A decision on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Staff (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the terms for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance on the 24th, March 2011 I appointed 2 special advisers, a personal secretary, a personal assistant and 2 civilian drivers. None of those concerned are members of my family. I trust the Deputy will appreciate that it is not open to me to request or compel those concerned to give me details of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has had her application reviewed and she has been awarded a grant. An award letter issued on 22nd January 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The measurement of the distances relating to the award of adjacent or non-adjacent rates of student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The distance measurement for student grant rates is governed by Article 27(3)(a) and (b) of the Student Grant Scheme 2012. This provides that the relevant distance will be measured in line with agreed guidelines. The guidelines...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The management authority of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application in April 2012 for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to replace high level windows and for dry-lining wall works at their school. As the scope of works for which funding is sought is outside the terms of the scheme they cannot be considered for funding. The management authority of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under previous arrangements teachers and SNAs who had been absent on maternity leave could avail of a maximum of 30 additional paid absence days in lieu of any school closures which overlapped with the 26 week period of maternity leave to which they were entitled. Teachers and SNAs who had been absent on statutory unpaid maternity leave could also avail of leave in lieu for public holidays...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The position is that Directive 2004/38/EC of the European Parliament specifies the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States. Such persons are entitled to have access to education and training in the State in the like manner and to the like extent in all respects as Irish citizens. Therefore the family members...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. As part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education, IBEC, in cooperation with the Higher Education Authority and higher education institutions, completed the first pilot national survey of employers in December 2012. The overall results of the survey, which are available on the HEA website (www.hea.ie), were...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that the documentation submitted to date is not adequate to prove nationality. A request for further documentation was issued to the student in question on 19th December, 2012. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the documentation provided by the student in question is not adequate to support his application and, on the 27th December 2012, a request for further documentation was issued. As soon as the requested information is received, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 272 together. As I advised the Deputy in my response to his question of 16th January 2013, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) made recommendations which suggested that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to fully implement the EPSEN...