Results 8,481-8,500 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together. Firstly, I wish advise the Deputy that there is no overall reduction in Resource Teaching numbers for the coming school year. Overall, 9,950 posts will be provided for Resource Teaching support for the 2012/13 school year, the same number as that provided for last year and an increase of 350 over that provided for in 2010. 5,500 of these...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It is intended to publish the value for money review on small primary schools at the earliest possible date, which I expect will be shortly after the summer. I look forward to its completion and to discussing its outcomes and proposals with members of the House. Publication of the review report will help to inform our decision-making in relation to small primary schools.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. This sets out the types of learning appropriate for students during the period...

Written Answers — Deontais Tríú Léibhéal: Deontais Tríú Léibhéal (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Chun bheith intofa ar dheontas mic léinn do bhliain acadúil ní mór duit bheith cónaitheach ar feadh 3 bliana ar a laghad as na 5 bliana díreach roimh an dáta ar a dtosnaíonn an bhliain staidéir sin, agus bheith ar chúrsa faofa in institiúid fhaofa. Más rud é nach sásaíonn tú an riachtanas cónaitheachta in Éirinn, ach go bhfuil tú tar éis bheith i do chónaí i mBallstát...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to reduce the reliance on rented prefabs in schools. The Prefab Replacement Initiative announced in March 2012 deals with schools that have been renting prefabs over a number of years rather than those schools with solely purchased prefabs on site. It is expected that this initiative will achieve savings of up to €5m...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In 2008, my Department undertook a review of the provision of temporary accommodation with a view to achieving best value for money. The review the development of new contractual terms to incorporate buy-out and relocation options to cater for individual local circumstances and appropriately protect the interests of the Department and school authorities. In February 2011, the schools...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The schools referred to by the Deputy have an application with my Department for capital funding for a major school project. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In the context of the need to prioritise available...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Student Grant Scheme and the Student Support Regulations for the 2012/13 academic year were published by my Department on the 11th June to coincide with the introduction of the single grant awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland or SUSI, and the new central online application system going live. The online application facility along with the guidelines pertaining to the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, on the 20th June I outlined an Action Plan in response to the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. I also said that I broadly accept the recommendations on divestment made by the Advisory Group and I have requested that the process leading to divesting of patronage in areas of stable population begin...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Education and Training Boards: Education and Training Boards (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 to 227, inclusive, together. My Department has not finalised budget proposals for the new Education and Training Boards. However, I expect that the new boards will be established early in 2013 and work on the budgets for each of the boards will be undertaken later this year. My Department published Circular 24/2012 on 19 June 2012 which detailed the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the tabular statement. Staff Retired from Department of Education and Skills from 2009 to 2012 Number of retirees Cost of lump sums paid 2009 56 € 4.9 million 2010 29 € 1.5 million 2011 26 € 1.9 million 2012 41 € 4.1 million |

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision is not feasible, home based...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations, charging and collecting fees for examinations and applying such monies to the carrying out of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not have any plans at present to issue guidelines on the teaching of English in Gaelscoileanna specifically. My Department issued a Circular (56/2011) to primary schools regarding the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in November 2011 and this may be accessed on the website of my Department. This circular to primary schools covered issues relating to time for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the Government has decided that a salary ceiling of €200,000 will apply to future appointments to senior positions across the Public Service. Since becoming Minister I have written to the Chairpersons of University Governing Bodies requesting them to ask all relevant individuals, including Presidents, who earn in excess of €200,000, to make voluntary waivers...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The programme for Government clearly states that education is a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. One of my Department's high level goals is to provide a quality inclusive school and early years' education system with improved learning outcomes. A key focus of education policy is...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced last December that the means test for student grants will be amended to take account of the value of certain capital assets as well as income for the 2013/14 academic year. A dedicated Capital Asset Test implementation group has been established. The group has been charged with bringing forward detailed implementation proposals on new means testing...