Results 8,121-8,140 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Teacher Secondment: Teacher Secondment (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In the school-year 2011/12, 59 Irish teachers (26 primary and 33 post-primary) were on secondment from their schools in Ireland and teaching in European Schools. Any variation in that number from year to year is small. The European Schools are a system of 14 nursery, primary and secondary schools established and maintained by the European Union and its Member States. The schools serve the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Net overall expenditure to end-June 2012 of €4.176 billion on the Education & Skills Vote is €26 million (0.6%) ahead of the profiled figure of €4.15 billion. Current expenditure of €4.005 billion is €16 million (0.4%) ahead of profile, while capital expenditure of €171 million is €10 million (6%) ahead of profile.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The project at the school to which the Deputy refers is at an early stage of architectural planning. The school was recently authorised to instruct its design team to proceed to Stage 2a (Developed Design) of the architectural planning process. Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2011 I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. This announcement included for the provision of a new post-primary school in Claregalway, County Galway to commence operation in September 2013. The New Schools Establishment Group has recently submitted its...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the education campus referred to by the Deputy is currently being master planned to accommodate the three schools. As the Deputy may be aware these schools were included in the 5 Year Programme which I announced on the 12th March last to proceed to construction in 2014/2015.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The capital funding provided to Primary and Post-Primary schools in County Mayo for the years 2008 to 2011 and to date in 2012 is included in table below. Due to the nature of the records available, the funding that issued in respect of the Minor Works Grant to Primary schools is only included in the table below. The Minor Works Grant issued to primary schools in 2008 and 2009 at a school...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional...

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions under this programme are regulated by the institutions themselves. Further details are available at www.accesscollege.ie.

Written Answers — Ministerial Allowances: Ministerial Allowances (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The payment of subsistence allowance while tending to official duties is not subject to income tax. During the period in question I received a total of €2,005.05 in respect of subsistence for official duties at home and abroad. My colleague, Mr. Ciaran Cannon, T.D., Minister of State, received a sum of €2,953.69 in respect of subsistence for duties he tended to abroad.

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy, the information supplied in the Parliamentary Question on 4 July 2012 takes into account all relevant pay reductions in public sector pay in recent years.

Written Answers — Student Grant Scheme: Student Grant Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the central grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Under my Department's student grant scheme, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It is my belief that a well planned Physical Education programme has a vitally important role to play in a broad and balanced curriculum for all students. In accordance with the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools, all second level schools should provide Physical Education as part of the curriculum. The junior cycle and senior cycle programme that each school plans and delivers should...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, it is intended to deliver a 16 classroom school on this site which will involve the construction of an extension and the reuse of part of the existing listed building. As the existing building is listed, a Declaration under Section 57 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 is required. A declaration under Section 57 indicates what work a planning authority...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is not aware of any requirements of the nature referred to in the question. If the Deputy could provide further details in this regard, I will arrange for the matter to be examined further.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have already made clear to the House on a number of occasions that school communities should have no reason to feel that there will be a forced closure of their local school. No school closes because it loses a teacher. Schools close because of a loss of pupils. Small primary schools that have had to close in recent years are those that are no longer viable due to falling enrolments. The...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 177, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in...

Written Answers — Emergency Works Scheme: Emergency Works Scheme (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that in response to Parliamentary Question No. 154 of the 10th of July last, the position is as was stated, that my Department had not received an application for funding under the Emergency Work Scheme. The school authorities have however been in contact with my Department regarding funding for refurbishment works to an adjacent building which the school authority has recently...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is making a significant contribution in support of the prevention pillar of the National Drugs Strategy through funding projects in local drugs task force areas. In the period 2007 to 2010, my Department provided funding for a significant number of projects in local drugs task force areas. In the context of difficult fiscal circumstances, the global allocation available for...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that an Anti-Bullying Forum was held on Thursday 17th May bringing together a range of experts, support groups and representatives of the schools sector including parents and students. I was very pleased to open this important Forum and to provide an opportunity to explore with all the relevant stakeholders how best to tackle bullying in schools and to consider what...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: None of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have powers to enter premises in order to conduct searches in the course of an investigation.