Results 8,721-8,740 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 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 (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. They have in place criteria for reasonable accommodation including an independent appeals system. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. Students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, can apply for a maintenance grant...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Details of the ceilings in the Government's Employment Control Framework for bodies under the aegis of my Department are provided in the attached table, together with details of the latest available staffing levels. Department of Education and Skills Employment Control Framework (ECF) for Aegis Bodies Name of Body ECF for end 2012 Staffing numbers at end March 2012* Whole Time...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to clarify that there have been no cuts made to the allocation for July Provision within my Department's budget. Therefore, any decision by an individual school to reduce the level of July Provision offered is a matter for each school. Any such decision has not been brought about by reductions in the level of available resources by the Department of Education & Skills. The Deputy will...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The proposed building project to extend and refurbish Virginia Mixed National School, County Cavan has recently been authorised to proceed to Stage 2a of architectural planning. To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department approved a devolved grant in April last to the school, referred to by the Deputy, for the provision of one mainstream classroom. The school has appealed this decision and is seeking increased funding for additional school accommodation. This proposal is currently being considered and a response will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding. In view of the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of additional school accommodation, the delivery of major school projects required to meet future demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. I wish however to advise the Deputy...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received correspondence from the school in question in relation to the matter to which he refers. A response will issue to the school authority as soon as the matter has been considered by my Department.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for a roof replacement in 2010. This application was refused as the scope of works for which funding was sought was outside the terms of the scheme. This decision was appealed and the school authority were informed that the project still remained outside the scope of the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data for...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council is a self funding body with income generated by way of teacher registration and renewal fees. Currently more than 70,000 teachers are registered and 7,500 teachers apply for registration each year. Under Section 23 of the Act, the Council has statutory authority to charge a fee and in this regard the annual teacher registration fee has been set at €90 per teacher per...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government has protected education as much as it can. Far greater reductions in expenditure and in the number of public servants are being made in other sectors relative to those in schools. But there are limits to the level of expenditure on education and the number of teaching posts we can afford. The Budget 2012 measures in relation to the post-primary sector are set out in the...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection of participants for FÁS 'reskilling' courses is currently a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Within its Adult Training provision, FÁS currently offers two Horticulture Programmes. One leads to a FETAC Award at Level 4 and the other a FETAC Award at Level 5. These major awards were led by TEAGASC in their development as they are the Authority in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, Institutes of Technology are autonomous bodies and it is a matter for each institution to ensure that their policies and procedures are compliant with employment law. In that regard, I have been informed by Dublin Institute of Technology that it is satisfied that its policy as referred to in the Deputy's question is in accordance with employment law. I would also...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project referred by the Deputy was included in the 5 year construction programme announced in March and is scheduled to commence construction in 2013. A stage 2(b) submission was received in the Department in April and following a review by the Department a letter issued to the Design Team. The Department is currently awaiting a response from the Design Team. The next stage for...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council's annual accounts for 2011 show a surplus of c. €11m. Of this amount, €4m has been set aside by the Council to cater for contingencies. Interest on funds in 2011 amounted to €252,000 (2010 - €146,000). This interest forms part of the overall income of the Council. The surplus finance will be used to meet the increased costs of the Council as it expands its role....

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The recent recruitment of the Director of the Teaching Council was by way of open competition and was carried out in accordance with good human resources practice. The post of Director of the Teaching Council was advertised on the Public Appointments Service website and also in the National Press. The salary scale for Post of Director is: €90, 355 - €110,844 (or as appropriate to the...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. There are thirty seven members appointed to the Teaching Council. Under the Teaching Council Act 2001 twenty two members are either directly elected teachers or nominated by teacher trade unions. No salary is paid for being a member of the Council. However, members are entitled to and receive expenses in accordance with Public Service...