Results 641-660 of 14,576 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies Data (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: For the Deputy's information there are no commercial semi-state companies under the aegis of my Department. Details of non commercial agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from the Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (13 May 2014)

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 schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for an extension to the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Five Year Construction Programme to proceed to Tender and Construction in 2014/15. The design team on the project had reached completion of Stage 1 of Architectural Planning. As part of that work it has now been agreed by my Department that extensive refurbishment works to the existing school will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is completing stage 2(a) of architectural planning. Following the Stage 2(a) Stakeholders meeting which was held in February 2014 between my Department Officials, the Boards of Management and their Design Team, an addendum report was requested to clarify a number of points. This report has been received and is under review....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The contractual position in respect of the working hours of SNAs is as outlined in their contracts of employment which were agreed with the school management authorities and the relevant Trade Unions representing SNAs (IMPACT and SIPTU) prior to their introduction in 2005. The agreement reached between the parties found expression in the two circular letters issued in 2005 detailing the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As part of the Budget 2012 decisions, there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools with four teachers or less. The first phase of the budget measure took effect from September 2012. The final phase of the budget measure takes effect from September 2014 and will not be suspended. My Department has expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive Summer Works Scheme funding in 2014 in respect of applications submitted for Categories 1 to 6 i.e. Gas, Electrical, Mechanical, Toilet Facilities and Roof Works projects. In total, I have approved the spending of more than €70 million on the Summer Works Scheme to allow 772 schools undertake...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am very conscious that costs associated with sending children to school is a considerable burden on families. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. In 2014, the Department will provide €15m in book grants to first and second level schools. An addition €6.7m will be targeted in 2014 and 2015 at primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Preschool Services (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the vast majority of supports for childcare, including pre-school education, is provided by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. The principal vehicle for the delivery of pre-school education is the free Pre-School Year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme which was introduced in January 2010 and provides for early learning in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding, on a devolved basis, was approved to the school in question on 30th April last by my Department for the provision of one mainstream classroom and two resource rooms for children with special educational needs. In that regard, devolved funding is approved on the basis that the works concerned are completed within 12 months of the date of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Suspension (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A Minor Works Grant issued to primary schools last November for the school year 2013/2014. Circular letter 0062/2013 which was published as the Minor Works Grant issued last November states that "the grant will only be paid in future years as funding permits". The Deputy will be aware that under the Investment and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016, the focus in the education sector is on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCCA Junior Cycle School Network was set up in April 2012. Its role was developmental; providing an in-school perspective on various aspects of the new junior cycle. It was never intended to be a pilot of the new junior cycle. The NCCA Network comprises 48 schools selected from applications made in response to a general invitation issued to all schools. It is representative of all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing Appeals Mechanism (13 May 2014)

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 2014/15 are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Communications (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: For the Deputy's information, telephone calls have not been recorded by the Department and are not currently being recorded.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Establishment (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be pleased to know that a new post-primary school under the patronage of Educate Together is commencing operation in September 2014 in the Dublin northwest area. The school will be located in Hansfield, Dublin 15.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 267 together. I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputies submitted an application for window replacement under the 2014 Summer Works Scheme. The Deputies will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive Summer Works Scheme funding in 2014 in respect of applications submitted for Categories 1 to 6 i.e....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together. As all primary teachers teach mathematics as an integral part of the curriculum, I believe that raising the quality of teaching and the confidence of teachers will have a positive effect on all children's performance in mathematics. I have asked the Teaching Council to advise on the entry requirements for initial teacher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 100 on 17 April last, my officials have made contact with the school authorities relating to their accommodation needs. I understand that the school authorities have undertaken to submit an application to my Department for funding for capital works. The application will be considered when received and a response will be...