Results 9,421-9,440 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I refer the Deputy to the attached table which shows the total expenditure by my Department to mobile telephone companies during the period from 2007 to 2011. Payments were made to two companies, namely O2 and Vodafone, during this period. Both of these companies are eligible to provide mobile phone services to Government Departments under the Government Framework Agreement. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Religious Symbolism in Schools: Religious Symbolism in Schools (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the recommendations of the Advisory Group Report broadly cover three areas: divesting patronage where there is a stable population and demand for diversity of schools; dealing with Irish-medium primary schools; and promoting more inclusiveness in all schools, including 'Stand Alone' schools where divesting patronage to another body is not an option. For...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In 2010, the school referred to by the Deputy was allocated devolved funding for the provision of a new 4 classroom school building, including ancillary accommodation, under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme. The school sought additional funding for costs associated with abnormal works. The application is currently being examined by my Department and the school authorities will...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In October 2011 the General Scheme of an Education and Training Boards Bill was referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education. The General Scheme was also published at that time. Following discussions with my Department and relevant stakeholders, the committee prepared a report which I responded to at a meeting of the committee on 25 January 2012. The...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has an application with the Department for a major school project involving school refurbishment and the replacement of temporary accommodation. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works, including this project, is available on the Department's website at...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that 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 Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373 to 377, inclusive, together. The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The school's Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2b Submission (Detailed Design) which, on completion, will be forwarded to my Department for review. The cost incurred in the design stages of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. 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...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of the results of the Eurostat study issued at the end of March 2012. I wish to inform the Deputy that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment advises that ICT is not a stand alone subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. Computer literacy is seen to be a "necessity in a large majority of professions" (Eurostat news...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 386 together. Under the ICT in Schools Programme funding is made available for the provision of computers and other ICT infrastructure for schools. The provision of funding for ICT equipment is one strand of the ICT in Schools Programme. The Programme addresses four key themes: internet access for schools (broadband since 2005) teacher professional...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 390 together. The focus in schools is on using ICT (a) as a tool in learning and (b) to improve the quality of teaching and learning across the curriculum, guided by the ICT curriculum framework developed by the NCCA. This framework is supported by extensive digital resources on the Scoilnet website, by professional development programmes for teachers...

Written Answers — Computer Science: Computer Science (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: These issues have not arisen in any formal discussions at European level or at the European Council. However the recently published figures by Eurostat on university graduates and their computing and computer skills may prompt discussion in the future.

Written Answers — Computer Science: Computer Science (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The content of the initial teacher education programmes is, currently, a matter for the individual Colleges of Education. The programmes provided by the Colleges of Education include modules and content on Information and Communication Technologies. The nature and depth of the content varies between the different institutions. The Teaching Council, which has statutory responsibility for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As I previously indicated, the information requested by the Deputy is an administrative matter for each agency. The day to day management of agencies, including the payment of salaries and expenses, in accordance with Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines, is a matter for the management of each agency. Accordingly, my Department does not maintain the level of detailed...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A nearby school which has been authorised by my Department to transfer the prefabs in question to its own site for continued use is currently completing a tender process for the removal of the prefabs. It is anticipated that a contract will be awarded and that the prefabs will shortly be removed from the current site. The site upon which the prefabs are currently located is not owned by my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. Reckonable income for student grants purposes is gross income from all sources whether it arises in the State or not. It includes income from pensions. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested in relation to contracts awarded in 2011 by my Department to consultancy firms is outlined on the following table. My Department did not award any contracts to consultancy firms in the first quarter in 2012. Contracts awarded in 2011 by the Department of Education and Skills to Consultancy Firms Consultancy Firm Cost of Contract € Centre for Cross Border...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my officials have consulted with the planning authority and are currently preparing a planning application for submission to the planning authority, in respect of the school to which he refers.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The redundancy arrangements for Special Needs Assistants were agreed at national level at the Labour Relations Commission. These arrangements are outlined in, and are governed by, my Department's circular 58/2006. The circular is available on my Department's website. The person referred to by the Deputy was employed by two different schools during the period 2005 - 2011. The person...