Results 8,341-8,360 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As I advised the Deputy last week, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is developing an appeals process which I understand will be in place when schools re-open in September 2012. The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot speculate on the details of the process until it has been finalised by the NCSE. However, I understand that appeals will be considered on the following grounds:...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 Jul 2012)

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 processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Resource Teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This matter has been raised on a number of occasions. The considered response of my Department and the State Examinations Commission is that this proposal would lead to an unsound educational experience for students. The Ordinary Level syllabus and Higher Level syllabus are both designed to be covered over a two year period. It would be a considerable challenge to encourage those who...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jun 2012)

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 processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Resource Teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board which was considered by the board at its meeting on 14 June. All appeals submitted to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board were considered in accordance with the published appeals criteria set out in my Department's Staffing Circular 0007/2012 which is available on the website. The board sough...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The attached document provides the relevant details of all appointments (and re-appointments) made to bodies under the aegis of my Department since my appointment as Minister on 9 of March, 2011 The Deputy should note that, in accordance with Government policy, expressions of interest have been sought through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) from suitably qualified and experienced...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. This includes the employment of superintendents for the examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Psychological Assessments: Psychological Assessments (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can inform the Deputy that all primary and post primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA) which is administered by NEPS. NEPS in common with other psychological services encourages a staged assessment process...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The person referred to by the Deputy was an employee of the Board of Management of the Limerick Model School. The Board of Management has made an application, under the terms of the Superannuation Act 1887, seeking to award the individual concerned a gratuity payment on retirement. My officials, in consultation with officials of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, are currently...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jun 2012)

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 processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for grant assistance under the student grant scheme is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority, i.e. local authority or Vocational Education Committee. It is a matter for each grant awarding authority to determine at its own absolute discretion whether or not to accept a late application. As this is a matter between the applicant and the grant awarding...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to nationality, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a grant. The nationality...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design) and, when complete, the school will forward this submission to my Department for review. Assuming no issues arise, the project will then proceed to stage 2(b) which includes planning...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 90, inclusive, together. In March 2011 approval was given for a number of new primary schools to commence operation in September 2011 and 2012 to cater for demographic needs. Approval was granted for two new primary schools in Ashbourne; one under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta to commence operation in September 2011, and the second under the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November last, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 - over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary - and will...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The new online grant application system has not changed the basis on which the income of self employed persons is determined. In the case where an accounting year end differs from the tax year, the income shown in the business accounts for a year which ends between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2011 is acceptable for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. This is the basis on which income...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: All appeals submitted to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board were considered in accordance with the published appeals criteria set out in my Department's Staffing Circular 0007/2012. The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an appeal which was considered at the April meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. That appeal was unsuccessful on the basis that the school did not meet the...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The assessment of the applications received for patronage of new second level schools, including in the area referred to, is being finalised and it is expected that the New Schools Establishment Group will be in a position shortly to make recommendations to me for consideration and final decision.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may 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. It is my intention that the significant resources to support children with Special Educational...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: On the 19th of December 2011 I announced details of 56 major school building projects planned to advance to construction in 2012. A further 60 schools under construction at that time also form part of the 2012 building programme. These projects are part of a €430m education infrastructure plan for 2012 and represent the first phase of a €2 billion five-year plan. Of the 116 schools...