Results 941-960 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I support any measures that can be taken to ensure that the costs to send a child to school are kept to a minimum. Some of the measures I have taken in this regard relate to book rental schemes and school uniforms. My Department's approach is to support and encourage all schools to have book rental schemes. In this regard, my Department will continue to provide a book grant, amounting to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Issues (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 194 and 205 together. Through a series of decisions the Government decided to replace 33 vocational education committees (VECs) with 16 new entities, to be known as education and training boards (ETBs), and to establish SOLAS to replace FÁS. The proposals in relation to SOLAS, as agreed by the Government, envisage a key role for the ETBs in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing Appeals Mechanism (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There were 5 primary schools who had an enrolment of 85 pupils on 30 September 2013. 3 of these schools submitted appeals to the Staffing Appeals Board to retain their existing staffing level for the 2014/15 school year on the basis of a projected enrolment of at least 86 pupils in September 2014. Each of these appeals were provisionally upheld by the Appeals Board and the 3 schools will not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume the Deputy is referring to the implementation of the final phase of the Budget 2012 measure where there is a phased increase in the number of pupils required to gain and retain a classroom teaching post in small primary schools. The final phase of the budget measure is being implemented as part of the staffing arrangements for schools for the 2014/15 school year. The precise amount...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on my Department's website. The staffing schedule operates on the basis of enrolment bands which specify the minimum and maximum number of pupils for the allocation of classroom teachers. The maximum number of pupils in the enrolment band for a 1-teacher school is 19 pupils, 55 pupils for a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to again clarify for the Deputy, as outlined in the response to the parliamentary question to which he refers, that under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory regulatory authority for the professional registration of teachers. The Council sets standards of entry to the profession and accredits initial teacher education programmes. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council is aware of my intention that Section 39 of the Teaching Council Act will be commenced as soon as practicable after Part 5 (Fitness to Teach) which is expected to be commenced later this year following its amendment. Full collaboration with the Teaching Council will continue regarding commencement and implementation of the Act. No definite date for the commencement of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCSE local network of Special Educational Needs Organisers provide support to schools in relation to the establishment of special classes. SENOs may support schools by meeting with Principals to provide information on the resources and supports available for schools which may include, for example, access to specialist staff training. SENOS liaise with NEPs personnel at local level,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As previously advised models responding to the differential needs of children with autism were developed over time as a result of engagement between administrative and professional staff from within and external to my Department. Subsequently it was recognised that the model concept was complex and multi-purpose. It was determined that parents of children with autism should have three...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Applied Behavioural Analysis, or ABA, is one of the approaches used in special classes for children with autism. The use of ABA as part of the range of interventions is particularly useful for addressing behavioural issues. My Department supports the use of ABA and training is provided for teachers in its use. As previously advised my Department provides for a comprehensive system of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Ombudsman for Children encouraged my Department to consider publishing a policy document on educating children with autism. As noted by the Deputy my Department advised in March 2013 that it was preparing to bring together all of the facets of the policy on the education of children with autism into one document to provide further clarity on the issue. In the interim I requested the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There is no record in my Department of a request from the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) for a meeting on policy issues. As the Deputy is aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently preparing Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The NCSE has advised my Department that the Policy Advice will be delivered in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is currently preparing Policy Advice on the Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders using terms of reference provided by my Department. I specifically asked that they would consult widely with parents, professionals, other stakeholders and interested parties in the preparation of this advice...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 216 together. Under the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is the body with statutory regulatory authority for the professional registration of teachers. The Council sets standards of entry to the profession and accredits initial teacher education programmes. I am satisfied that primary teachers are qualified to teach in a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Ombudsman for Children encouraged my Department to consider publishing a policy document on educating children with autism. My Department advised during the course of last year that it was preparing to bring together all of the facets of the policy on the education of children with autism into one document to provide further clarity on the issue. In the interim I requested the National...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (30 Apr 2014)

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential additional school places to meet demographic demand, my Department is not in a position to provide an indicative timeframe for progression of a major capital project at this time. However, my Department is finalising a decision in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Pupil numbers at both primary and post-primary level are increasing annually and are projected to continue to increase for the forseeable future. I acknowledge that this will result in increased requirements for additional teachers in the school system. Notwithstanding the difficult budgetary climate the Government has tried, as best as possible, to protect front line services in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In the context of the necessary but difficult expenditure reduction measures announced in Budget 2012, new students entering postgraduate courses from the 2012/13 academic year onwards are not entitled to maintenance payments under the Student Grant Scheme. Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme are eligible to have their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Responsibility for the delivery of a new 16 classroom school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the Office of Public Works. The project is at the early stages of architectural planning and is one of the school projects approved to proceed to construction in 2014/2015. When construction will commence will be dependent on the progress of the project through the various stages of...