Results 1,101-1,120 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Sixty - six zero.

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: With regard to small islands, I will certainly adopt, and do adopt, a different approach. That is my intention because of the very nature of those schools. The Deputy may be aware of this, and I have additional information in regard to two islands because of the viability of island communities. That is a separate case altogether and I am prepared to talk to people about that matter, but we...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: What I can say to the Deputy and confirm to the House is with regard to isolated communities, particularly island schools, I am reconsidering that rule.

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: That is what the figures suggest and in those cases in the first instance it is for the board of management to decide what it thinks is the best for the future for the school.

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 18 and 25 together. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and I published an Action Plan on Bullying in January of last year which sets out 12 actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in schools. I have made €500,000 available in 2014 and I am satisfied that this is an adequate sum of money to support the implementation of the action plan. The...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy is referring to a specific case. I would be more than happy to discuss it with him on a one to one basis. Alternatively, if he forwards the details to me, I will obtain for him bespoke advice on the position on this matter. My initial reply was a general policy response, which shows that there is some flexibility in the context of the time when people reach the age of 18 years....

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Not immediately. I will make inquiries and return to the Deputy on it. If he forwards all of the relevant details to me, I will obtain for him a proper response.

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department's National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, in line with best international practice, works through a consultative model of service and a continuum-based assessment and intervention process. This means that each school takes responsibility for initial assessment, educational planning and remedial intervention for pupils with learning, emotional or behavioural...

Other Questions: Psychological Assessments (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: On the basis of what I have said, the Deputy can take it that that is the case. If, however, he wants to provide me with details of a particular instance where this may have arisen, I will be happy to obtain more comprehensive information for him.

Other Questions: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual for all primary schools and this grant can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. The National Parents Council - Primary has surveyed its members on book rental schemes currently in operation. The survey has found that they are open to all parents in 95% of cases, that the...

Other Questions: School Enrolments Data (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Information on the number of pupils enrolled in individual schools is provided in the national school annual census. Results from the census for the current school year - 2013-14 - are being finalised. All data at first level and a final list of schools and their enrolments will be published on my Department's website by the end of the school year. Based on the preliminary figures which...

Other Questions: School Enrolments Data (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on this matter was taken in the light of the extraordinary set of economic circumstances which obtained when we entered office. We had no choice but to make reductions all over the place and this was one of the areas affected. When I made the announcement on this matter, I gave schools a three year horizon within which they might examine their own situations and provide for a...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Special schools are classified as primary national schools and intended to cater for children with special educational needs from the age of 4 years to 18. The Health Service Executive then assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special needs who are over 18 years. Where special schools apply to my Department to retain pupils who, prior to reaching 18 years, had embarked on...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: That is the inference from the reply.

Other Questions: School Curriculum (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for his concern and his comments, which I share. I propose to ask the Department to raise this matter in its regular meetings with the joint management bodies. Those are the groups responsible in post-primary schools, but we can also do it with the Catholic Primary School Managers Association or CPSMA.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Teachers' Panel Rights (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I must confess that suggestion has not crossed my desk. However, in the light of the Deputy's question, I am happy to consider it. I will review the position and write to him. The initiative is probably with the teachers' unions and representatives, but I will send a more comprehensive answer to the Deputy. He can then decide on the best way forward.

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I recently announced that an additional 390 special needs assistant, SNA, posts had been made available to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to allocate to schools to the end of 2014, bringing the total number of SNAs available to 10,965. An additional 480 resource teaching posts have also been made available for the current school year, bringing to over 10,700 the number of...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for his supplementary question. If he wishes to send me the details, I will examine the specific case. The allocation of resources is based on an assessment conducted by a special educational needs organiser or, in some cases, depends on private arrangements made by parents. I believe that is what the Deputy is referring to.

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I will consider the Deputy's suggestion and discuss it with the Ministers for Health and Children and Youth Affairs.

Other Questions: School Curriculum (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Relationships and sexuality education, RSE, is one component of social, personal and health education, SPHE, in the existing junior cycle. As part of the new junior cycle student awards, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, is finalising its specification for a new short course in SPHE. The development of the specification, including consultations and reviews of...