Results 9,621-9,640 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 209 together. 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 the detail of the reform of the allocation process which is designed to bring a more equitable distribution of existing posts between schools. The new arrangements incorporate a...
- Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. A 10% reduction in salary applies to new entrants to the public service , including teachers, who commenced employment for the first time on or after 1 January 2011. This is in accordance with the Budget 2011 decision taken by the previous administration. Teachers appointed for the first time on or after the 1st January 2011 also...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The capital allocations for expenditure in schools in the period 2012 to 2016 are as follows: 2012, â¬357m; 2013, â¬335.5m; 2014, â¬451m; 2015, â¬454.5m; 2016, â¬394.5m; Total, â¬1,992.5m.
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: Total capital expenditure by my Department in 2011 amounted to â¬556m compared to the 2011 Revised Estimates Volume allocation of â¬501m â an increase of â¬55m. With the 2011 capital allocation more than fully expended there was no facility to carry over monies into the 2012 allocation.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 to 145, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware of the demographic challenges that we are facing. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 - over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary - and will continue to grow up to at least 2024 at post-primary level. The...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria. Unlike in other countries, our school-going population is rising rapidly. Places have to be provided for the extra 70,000 pupils arriving in our schools in the next six years and teachers must...
- Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: Since becoming Minister I have sought to bring greater transparency to the school building programme. As the Deputy will be aware, I announced last December details of 56 major school building projects to commence construction in 2012 representing the first phase of the five-year plan for major school building projects. The plan also detailed a further 60 projects that were already at...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for a grant. I understand from the awarding...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 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 — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 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 recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the schools referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2(a) submission (developed sketch scheme) was recently submitted to my Department and is being examined. Assuming no issues arise with the stage 2(a) submission, the next step for the project will be progression to stage 2(b) which includes the applications for...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy is a 4 classroom teacher school with 82 pupils. It will continue to be a 4 classroom teacher school in September 2012 with 83 pupils. It may lose a classroom teacher in September 2013. However, it can avoid this if its overall enrolment increases next September to 85 pupils. Under the new arrangements for GAM (learning support) the school has notified...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: Special schools and classes for students with mild general learning difficulties are supported by enhanced pupil teacher ratios of 11 to 1. Pupils attending such classes who have care needs are also supported by Special Needs Assistants. Pupils who require health service supports, including counselling services, are provided with such services by the Health Service Executive (HSE) or through...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for electrical upgrade works. As the scope of works for which funding is sought is outside the terms of the scheme it cannot be considered for funding. The school authority has been informed of this decision.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware I recently announced an initiative to replace rented prefabs in schools. Almost 200 schools have been offered an opportunity to replace rented prefabs with permanent accommodation. The school referred to by the Deputy is one of the schools being offered grant aid to replace their rented prefabs.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 186 together. Under the proposed reforms for the coming school year the combined resources available for GAM (General Allocation Model) and language support will be used to create a single simplified allocation process to cover both the GAM and language support at primary level. Schools will have autonomy on how to deploy the resource between language...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations. In view of the above I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was set up as an independent statutory body to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children. Correspondence between the NCSE and parents of children is a matter for the Council and will be dealt with by the NCSE directly.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Mar 2012)
Ruairi Quinn: School building projects are tendered in line with public procurement procedures. There are two methods of tendering (the Restricted procedure and the Open procedure). In both procedures there are minimum standards for participation (including previous experience, turnover, insurance, capacity to obtain a bond etc). The minimum standards for participation are stated in the Contract notice/...