Results 9,521-9,540 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The total capital allocation for my Department is â¬430 million, of which â¬357 million has been assigned to the school sector. Expenditure in 2012 on large scale projects and the acquisition of sites is estimated at â¬240 million while expenditure under the Additional Accommodation Scheme and the initiative I announced recently to replace rented prefabs in schools will cost in the region...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on my Department's website. This includes details of the reform of the allocation process which is designed to bring a more equitable distribution of existing posts between schools. The overall objective with the reforms is to enable the teacher allocation and redeployment...
- Written Answers — Statutory Trust Fund: Statutory Trust Fund (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I had a very constructive meeting with groups representing survivors of residential institutional abuse on 22nd July last, when we discussed the Government's approach to the proposed Statutory Fund to support the needs of victims of residential institutional abuse. The Government is proceeding with the drafting of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill on the basis of the General...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197, 198 and 218 together. The Task Force on Autism Report was published in 2001 and its recommendations concerning broad educational provision for children on the autistic spectrum from pre-school through to third level provided the basis for the development of educational services and supports for persons with autism since then. The Task Force was composed...
- Written Answers — Religious Education: Religious Education (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I wish to assure the Deputy that Ireland did not mislead the UN Human Rights Committee in any way in relation to this matter. The UNHRC request in question related to the elimination of religious discrimination in access to education. Ireland did not accept this. There is a growing non-denominational school sector in Ireland, particularly at primary level. These schools cater for all pupils...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: My Department provides for the education of children with special educational needs through a number of support mechanisms depending on the child's assessed disability. In general, educational provision for children with special needs is made; in special schools; in special classes attached to mainstream schools; or in integrated settings in mainstream classes. The Deputy will be aware that...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: On the 12th of March I announced a five year plan which outlined the major school projects that will proceed to construction over the lifetime of the plan. Details of the individual projects and the indicative timeline for when each project is expected to proceed to construction were published as part of the announcement. A total of â¬1.5 billion will be spent on those projects included in...
- Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I am informed by FÃS that the individual in question commenced an ECDL course on the 20th March 2012 in Drogheda. ECDL courses are very popular and a very high number of clients have been referred to these programmes. As a result of this high demand, waiting lists are necessarily in place.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, on 12th March last, I announced details of the new major school building projects where construction is expected to commence over the next five years as part of a â¬1.5 billion major school project capital investment programme. The school referred to by the Deputy was included in that announcement to commence construction of their extension in 2015/2016. The...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced on March 12th is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the provision of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support at the school referred to by him. I wish to advise that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE...
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 207 together. In December 2011, expressions of interest were sought, through the Public Appointments Service (PAS), from suitably qualified and experienced persons for positions on three Boards of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, including the Qualifications and Quality Assurance Authority of Ireland (QQAAI). The deadline was extended to...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Mar 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 allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which now...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Mar 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 allocating resource teaching support and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on my Department's website. This includes details of the reform of the allocation process which is designed to bring a more equitable distribution of existing posts between schools. The overall objective with the reforms is to enable the teacher allocation and redeployment...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The Transition Year was introduced as a pilot project in September 1974, and was mainstreamed in September 1994. My Department is not in a position to provide the information requested by the Deputy going back to 1974. Schools offering transition year are provided with additional teaching and financial resources in respect of the cohort of pupils availing of the programme. In the current...
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The Transition Year (TY) is a one-year programme that forms the first year of a three-year senior cycle. It is designed to act as a bridge between the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programmes. It is available to all second level schools. Transition Year is optional for students in most schools. Some 28,500 students in 550 post-primary schools follow this option. Each school...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The management authority of each school carries responsibility for making decisions regarding the Transition Year (TY) Programme in that school. Based on information available to my Department the number of students enrolled in the Transition Year programme for the 2011/2012 school year is 30,536 with circa 1,600 whole time equivalent teaching posts allocated in respect of same.
- Written Answers — Transition Year Programme: Transition Year Programme (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile the information for the past five years and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
- Written Answers — Transition Year Programme: Transition Year Programme (27 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: An evaluation of the Transition Year Programme was published by the ESRI in 2005. A key finding from this study was that school principals and teachers see the Transition Year programme as broadly successful, especially in developing personal and social skills among students. The evaluation showed that transition year students were 1.3 more likely to enter higher education, and achieved...