Results 11,541-11,560 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Following detailed consultation between the Irish universities and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland in the context of the ongoing process of implementing the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), the universities have agreed that the initial post-primary teaching qualification, hitherto known as the Higher Diploma in Education and latterly as the Graduate or Postgraduate...

Written Answers — Third Level Expenditure: Third Level Expenditure (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 to 68, inclusive, and 70 together. All of the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the Universities; however, the Higher Education Authority has contacted them seeking an early reply and I will forward the available data to you as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government is proceeding with the drafting of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill on the basis of the General Scheme prepared by my Department. These proposals followed extensive consultations with survivors of residential abuse and the groups which support them, together with a public consultation process. The General Scheme, together with a copy of a Report on the...

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have held meetings with educational book publishers, representatives of parents' organisations and the Society of St Vincent de Paul regarding the cost of school textbooks. The following publishers were represented at the meeting with me on 10 October 2011: CJ Fallon, Forum Publications, Educational Company of Ireland, Gill and McMillan, Mentor Books, Educate.ie, An Gúm and Folens. All of...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In relation to primary and post-primary schools, my Department pursues the integration of ICT into teaching and learning and the development of pupils' digital literacy through the ICT in Schools Programme. This Programme focuses on four key areas: - The provision of essential ICT infrastructure within schools (including in particular an investment of €92m over 2009 and 2010) - The...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers was sanctioned funding in November 2010 on a devolved basis to provide a 1 classroom Special Needs/Autistic Spectrum Disorder Unit. A once-off set up grant for this Unit was also approved. The school authorities advised my Department in April 2011 that it expected the project to be completed within approximately six months of the project's commencement in...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are no plans at present to include Irish sign language as a specific subject within the national curriculum in primary and post-primary schools in the Junior Certificate, or established Leaving Certificate programmes. Irish Sign Language is one of the optional modules available within the Leaving Certificate Applied programme, and schools also have the flexibility to provide this as an...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) declared the following savings and excesses to my Department since 2008. Financial Year 2008 Pay Allocation: saving of €2,482,000 Non-pay Allocation: saving of €134,000 Financial Year 2009 Pay Allocation: saving of €1,724,000 Non-pay Allocation: no savings or excess Financial Year 2010 Pay Allocation: saving of €1,068,000...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Each person appointed to a recognised teaching post should be registered with the Teaching Council, and have qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which s/he is to be employed. However, from the information supplied, it appears that the individual referred to by the Deputy may not be employed in such a teaching post. The Teaching Council's regulations are set...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2011)

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

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing applications to their undergraduate courses. However, the participating institutions retain the function of making decisions on admissions. Neither my Department nor the Higher Education Authority has any role in relation to the operation of the CAO or the admissions policies of third level institutions.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism who choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school-based provision...

Written Answers — University Expenditure: University Expenditure (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 49 and 52 together. All of the information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in the University sector; however, the Higher Education Authority has contacted them seeking an early reply and I will forward the available data to you as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have held meetings with educational book publishers, representatives of parents' organisations and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul regarding the cost of school textbooks. The following publishers were represented at the meeting with me on 10 October 2011: C J Fallon, Forum Publications, Educational Company of Ireland, Gill and McMillan, Mentor Books, Educate.ie, An Gúm and Folens. All...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (19 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, the recognition of teacher qualifications in this State is now a matter for the Teaching Council, the body with statutory responsibility for establishing and maintaining standards in the teaching profession. While it would not be appropriate for me to intervene in individual cases, I have forwarded the Deputy's correspondence on to the Teaching Council for a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Oct 2011)

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

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (18 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is examining the accommodation needs of the school to which he refers. My officials will be in further contact with the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The provision of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers necessitates the acquisition of a suitable site. This is actively being pursued by my Department. Due to the commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further on this aspect of the matter at this time. Once a site has been acquired, the advancement of a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Major Building Project at this school is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The design team is working on stage 2(b) of architectural planning, which includes applications for planning permission, fire certificate and disability access certificate and the preparation of tender documents. Planning permission was granted on 22 February 2011. Upon completion of stage 2(b),...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 Oct 2011)

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