Results 11,241-11,260 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education Authority is examining all issues relating to the funding of higher education having regard to continuing growth in student numbers and budgetary constraints. The planned outcome of this work is to facilitate Government decisions that support realistic and sustainable levels of growth in student numbers despite the difficult economic conditions.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A list of those bodies currently under the aegis of my Department is provided in the following table for the Deputy's information. The table provides details with regard to Head Quarter location, estimated funding allocations for 2011 and While Time Equivalent (WTE) staffing numbers. While no bodies under the aegis of my Department have been abolished since my appointment as Minister the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act, individual school authorities are responsible in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others in their care. As the Deputy may be aware I announced last Thursday that my Department will be issuing the minor works grant for 2011/12 to the primary school shortly and it is open to the school...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Works at the College to which the Deputy refers were halted in April of this year due to the withdrawal of the originally appointed contractor. The project is currently being re - tendered with completed tenders due back later this month. Provided that a successful and satisfactory tender is received, works should re- commence on site early in 2012. In this regard, the Deputy may be aware...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating teaching staff and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to special schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Departments criteria in allocating such support, which now...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that my Department is currently examining an application from the school to which the Deputy refers for improved and extended accommodation. My officials have met with the school and will be in further contact with the school authority as soon as full consideration of the application has been completed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Following clarification secured from the Deputy's office, I can confirm that a major capital works application was submitted to my Department in respect of a new school for the proposed amalgamation of two schools in the area to which he refers. The application was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 1 rating....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Information in respect of my Department's School Building Works Programme for 2011, including those projects in the counties referred to by the Deputy is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. The status of each project on the programme is updated at regular intervals to reflect the current position.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Since 9th March 2011 the following appointments have been made to the Boards of the Bodies under the aegis of my Department. - Mr. Eamonn Devoy, Mr. Tony Donohoe, Professor Anne Scott, Ms. Maria Bourke and Ms. Audrey Deane were all appointed to the Board of the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) with effect from end March 2011. While the terms of office for these...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design). When this submission is received it will be reviewed by my Department and, subject to no issues arising, officials in my Department will be in contact with the Board of...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand Phase 4 apprenticeship courses are not exclusively held in Dublin, they are also held in different locations throughout the Country. I am informed that the FÁS apprenticeship scheduling management system is designed to automatically call apprentices, by region, trade and training phase on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available FÁS Training...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. The priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the teaching...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The schemes for the award of Incremental Credit for prior teaching and relevant non-teaching service are agreed under the auspices of the Teachers' Conciliation Council, a body established in accordance with the terms of the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for Teachers. The Council is composed of representatives of the teacher representative bodies, school management, the Department of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The following table expresses total education expenditure, as recorded in the Appropriation Accounts for 2008-10 and the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2011, as a percentage of GDP and GNP. It should be noted that a number of changes have occurred to the structure of the Vote for my Department over this period including: The transfer out of the Education and Science Vote from 1...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is included in the table. Number of staff employed in the primary, secondary and third level sectors each year from 2008 to 2011. (Whole-Time Equivalents) End 2008 End 2009 End 2010 End Sept 2011 First Level Education 41,033 40,903 41,504 40,318 Primary Teachers 31,939 31,814 32,423 31,850 Special Needs Assistants 8,670 8,683 8,692 8,085 Others...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The pupil-teacher ratio published by the Department for the years 2006/07 to 2010/11 are as follows. First Level Second Level 2006/2007 16.0 13.1 2007/2008 16.0 12.9 2008/2009 15.9 13.0 2009/2010 *16.0 13.6 2010/2011 15.7 13.6 * Whole-time equivalent of part-time teachers were included for the first-time in 09/10 The most recent comparison of PTR with other European and OECD countries was...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Subjects will be assessed by means of a written examination set and marked by SEC, and a portfolio marked by the class teacher in the school, moderated by the school and subject to external moderation on a sample basis by SEC. Short courses will be assessed by means of a portfolio, and subject to internal moderation by the school. The term "portfolio" may include practical tests, (or events...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: It is important to note that Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations are not permanent, as the level of SNA support allocated to a school may be increased or decreased as pupils who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. They are also decreased where a child's care needs may have diminished over time. The recruitment and deployment of SNAs within schools are matters for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As indicated to the Deputy in my response to parliamentary question number 79 of 10th November 2011 I do not have any property leased directly from the private sector in County Westmeath. With regard to those bodies under the aegis of my Department I can confirm to the Deputy that FÁS has four premises rented/leased in Westmeath. Details as follows: - Athlone Employment Services Office –...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (16 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 121 together. There is no requirement for local school authorities to report incidents or allegations of bullying to my Department. My Department does receive a number of complaints and queries from parents regarding matters such as bullying involving schools. It important to highlight that in many of these instances, parents are seeking guidance from...