Results 10,341-10,360 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools are published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedules for the current school year and for the coming school...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Legislation providing for the dissolution of the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and its amalgamation with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) was published in July 2011 and is currently progressing through the Houses of the Oireachtas. In order to manage the transition of functions to the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 155 together. The Deputy will be aware of the Government's commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network and a school placement is available for the child...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department of Education and Skills participated in the work of the National Steering Group on Financial Education established by the Financial Regulator. The Report of the Group, Improving Financial Capability - a Multi-stakeholder Approach, was published in July 2009. The Group also developed a Financial Competency Framework which sets out a comprehensive set of learning outcomes...

Written Answers — Schools Buildings Projects: Schools Buildings Projects (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project at the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage 2(b) Submission (Detailed Design and Tender Documents) which will then be forwarded to my Department for review. Thereafter, officials from my Department will be in contact with the Board of Management with regard...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Given the scale of our economic crisis, adjustments have had to be made across all areas of the public sector. Despite this challenge, the Government has sought to do this in as fair a way as possible. We have protected the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level, continue to prioritise targeted support for the most disadvantaged schools and maintain the overall number of resource teachers and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take questions 191 and 157 together. My Department will be notifying schools in the coming weeks of the new staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year. It will include detail of the staffing appeals process and appeal criterion for those small schools that are projecting increased enrolments that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing classroom posts...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Circular 3/2012 issued on 31 January 2012 provides that, pending the outcome of a review by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, allowances are not payable to new beneficiaries; ie those who become eligible for receipt of the allowance in question on or after 1 February 2012. No additions to the common basic pay scale may be paid to new beneficiaries. Examples of such additions...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Schools Buildings Projects: Schools Buildings Projects (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Office of Public Works acting on behalf of my Department are engaged in the process of acquiring the site. An Outline Planning Permission has been obtained by the Office of Public Works and the Chief State Solicitor's Office are engaged in pre-contract enquiries with the Vendor's legal representatives with a view to finalising contracts for signing. Due...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In May of last year, I formally asked the Higher Education Authority to provide advice to me on draft performance criteria for a process for the designation of technological universities. Draft criteria had been developed by an international expert commissioned by my Department following the publication of the national strategy on higher education. In developing their advice, the Authority...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The persons referred to by the Deputy are employed on a part-time basis by the Boards of Management of the schools under the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative. I am unable at this time to provide the Deputy with details of redundancy entitlements for tutors engaged in the Initiative. My officials will be contacting the schools concerned in the coming weeks to ascertain details...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested is provided in the National School Annual Census. The census for the current school year (2011/2012) is being finalised at present and results will be published on my Department's website later in the year. A full list of primary schools with their enrolments for the 2010/11 school year can be found on my Department's website at the following link...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June 2011, I announced that 20 new primary schools are to be established in the next six years across a number of locations. My Department invited patrons and prospective patron bodies to make applications for patronage of the new primary schools that are due to be established in 2012 and 2013. A report on these applications has been prepared by my Department for the consideration by the...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is currently finalising the report, which I requested, on the impact of the withdrawal of posts under these older schemes on DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools only. I will then make a decision on the final outcome for the individual schools involved. My Department will be publishing its Circular shortly which will set out the staffing arrangements at primary level for...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In his address to Dáil Éireann on December 5th 2011 the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced that Public Service bodies will have to achieve a reduction of 5% in the cost of allowances and premium payments in 2012. In order to achieve the necessary reduction, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is conducting a review of allowances and premium payments across...

Written Answers — Early Retirement Scheme: Early Retirement Scheme (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the format sought. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are currently fully occupied addressing the pension benefit entitlements for teachers who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have applied to retire in the period 1 January to 29 February 2012 is...

Written Answers — Early Retirement Scheme: Early Retirement Scheme (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the format sought. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are currently fully occupied addressing the pension benefit entitlements for teachers who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have applied to retire in the period 1 January to 29 February 2012 is...

Written Answers — Early Retirement Scheme: Early Retirement Scheme (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the format sought. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are currently fully occupied addressing the pension benefit entitlements for those who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have applied to retire in the period 1 January to 29 February 2012 is...

Written Answers — Early Retirement Scheme: Early Retirement Scheme (7 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the format sought. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are currently fully occupied addressing the pension benefit entitlements for those who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have applied to retire in the period 1 January to 29 February 2012 is...