Results 12,221-12,240 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project at the School referred to by the Deputy is included in the 2011 School Building Programme to formulate a project brief and commence the process of appointing a design team. I can inform the Deputy that the formulation of the project brief has been completed and that the tendering process for the appointment of a design team will commence over the school summer holiday...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I recently announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years. Of the 40 new schools, one new post-primary school will be located in the North County Dublin/South County Louth area. I also announced the introduction of new arrangements for the recognition of both primary and post-primary schools that will provide an opportunity for all...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that there are 11 schools in South Tipperary that have temporary accommodation, one of which is a post primary school. A list of the schools containing the information requested is attached for the Deputy's convenience. All large scale building projects, including proposed projects for South Tipperary will be considered within the context of my Department's...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy 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 (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently located on a temporary basis in a former VEC school building in Naas which must be vacated. However, it will be available to the school for the commencement of the 2011-12 school year. The Department has secured the use of a building in Kildare town which was previously occupied by a former Vocational School. It is intended that this premises...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under my Department's Free Fees Schemes, the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of students who are entering approved courses for the first time and where they satisfy the relevant conditions as to residence, nationality and previous academic attainment. One of the nationality criteria is where a student has been granted permission to remain in the State as a family member...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that rainwater harvesting systems were first introduced for major school building projects in 2008. Since then all major school building projects, where site conditions and circumstances allow and where economically viable to do so, can incorporate a rainwater harvesting system into their accommodation brief....

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. The Deputy is referring to the Millennium Partnership Fund which was discontinued by the previous Government. As I regret that I am not in a position to reverse this decision, I have no plans to meet the organisation in question.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (12 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Traditionally redeployment at primary level has operated within schools of the same patronage. The Croke Park Agreement provides for the continued employment of surplus teachers through redeployment. This process in nearing completion, with very limited movement of teachers between schools of different patronage. I appreciate the goodwill that applied in making this happen and recognise...

Written Answers — Third Level Staff Remuneration: Third Level Staff Remuneration (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of staff earning more than €100,000 in universities and Dublin Institute of Technology includes the most senior levels of management whose salaries exceed €150,000, Academic Medical Consultants whose salaries exceed €200,000, and Professors who have salaries up to €145,952. These numbers also include some Associate Professors in universities and some Senior Lecturers in...

Written Answers — Education Schemes: Education Schemes (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 38 together. The Deputy will be aware that my Department has published a Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Analysis review of the Special Needs Assistant scheme. This review is available on my Departments website: www.education.ie. The Review has shown that the SNA Scheme has been successful in supporting schools in meeting the needs of students with...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is currently finalising its advice to me on the direction of junior cycle reform, in consultation with the partners in education. I have been kept informed of the Council's general progress, and I am aware that an advanced draft of proposals was discussed at a meeting of Council in June....

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: At this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2012/13 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget and meeting our obligations under the EU/IMF Programme. The National Recovery Plan...

Written Answers — School Books: School Books (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I share the concern expressed by many parents and organisations, including the St. Vincent de Paul, in relation to the high cost of school books and the frequent rate of revisions made by book publishers. I previously indicated to the House that I would meet with book publishers and representatives of parents to discuss this important issue in greater detail. I can confirm that I met with...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) operates an early intervention continuum of assessment in schools for children with the broad range of special educational needs, including behavioural difficulties. The continuum of assessment allows for the identification of pupils with special educational needs, their nature and severity by harnessing the experience of class...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 52 together. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. 10,575 whole time equivalent posts are being provided for the coming school year. To manage this limited resource, 475 of these posts will be retained for allocation over the coming school year to address...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that I am not in a position to reverse changes to the student grant scheme announced by the previous Government. Some 18,000 students qualifying for grant support are estimated to live between 24kms and 45kms from their colleges. Furthermore, it is estimated that some 6,900 mature students qualifying for grant support live 45 kilometres or less from their institution. Students...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 for every applicant, a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which...