Results 11,921-11,940 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Report of the Expert Group called for the introduction of bonus points for Higher Level Mathematics in the Leaving Certificate. I am pleased to say that all third level institutions have collectively decided to operate a bonus points scheme for Higher Level Mathematics for a four year trial period from 2012 to 2015 with a review in 2014. A bonus of 25 points will be allocated to...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. 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 in order to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (15 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (EPSEN) 2004 have already been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. The Deputy is also aware that the previous Government...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: There are no plans to extend the current time limit allowed to apply for payments under the Redundancy Scheme for Special Needs Assistants.
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 181 together. I understand that in the case referred to by the Deputy, an application for a grant made to the student's local authority was unsuccessful and that in a subsequent appeal made to the local authority the original decision was upheld. I also understand that a further appeal was made to the Department and the decision of the awarding...
- Written Answers — Gaelscoileanna: Gaelscoileanna (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The standardisation of the staffing schedule for Gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally was one of a number of measures introduced in Budget 2011 by the previous government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes came into effect from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country now finds itself, it is not...
- Written Answers — School Enrolment Age: School Enrolment Age (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The compulsory school starting age is 6 years of age and a child must be at least 4 years of age before she/he may be enrolled in a primary school. A proposal to raise the school starting age to 5 years was one of a range of budgetary savings options that were put forward to the previous government as a means of reducing teacher payroll costs. This measure was not implemented.
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: In June this year, I announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years across a number of locations. This announcement included a proposal to establish new primary schools in the Tallaght region. My Department has recently informed patron bodies of these new schools to be established and has invited appliactions for patronage of same....
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Sep 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 Staffing: School Staffing (14 Sep 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 — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Sep 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. Circular...
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The primary redeployment procedures are published on my Department's website. Under these procedures, my Department provides supplementary panel rights for eligible fixed-term teachers who are currently employed in a primary school with between three and five years temporary service. The teacher referred to by the Deputy, does not meet these requirements and has been advised accordingly.
- Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...
- Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place...
- Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) is a third-level admissions scheme for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions under this programme are regulated by the institutions themselves. The Deputy may wish to contact the Irish Universities...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 183 together. The following table shows the total cost of taxi hire met by my Department in the past four years (2007- 2010). 2007 â¬71,999.07 2008 â¬71,762.02 2009 â¬50,777.69 2010 â¬43,055.91 Taxis used by my Department's officials are strictly for business purposes and staff members are required to ensure that every effort is made to...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Sep 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position to reverse or vary any of the changes to the student grant schemes introduced by the last Government and funding is not available to me for any new student support measures. However, students on particularly low incomes will continue to receive a "top-up" in the special rate of grant under the student grant scheme...
- Written Answers — Arts Plan: Arts Plan (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: Arts education (visual arts, music and drama) is one of the seven curriculum areas that comprise the primary curriculum, which was revised in 1999. Therefore all primary school children have access to an arts programme. At second level there are approved syllabuses for Junior Certificate in Music and Art, Craft and Design. In the senior cycle there are syllabuses in Music and Art. Modules...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that policy can be expressed and manifested through a variety of forms. Explicitly, it is communicated via legislation, regulations, rulings, orders, plans, strategies, policy statements, and other forms â or through a combination of these. Therefore the Deputy will appreciate that specific policies and objectives are not always articulated in just one document....