Results 13,041-13,060 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that Scoil Naomh Pádraig was approved funding towards the provision of an additional Mainstream classroom. On foot of this approval, the Board of Management of the school submitted an appeal requesting that additional funding be granted to the school to replace an old rented prefab with a permanent structure. Officials of my Department have been in contact again...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: An application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for roof works has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: An application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for roof works has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: An application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for roof works has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which poses an immediate risk to health, life, property...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. A list of 453 successful schools was announced on 30 March 2011 and I regret that the application made by the school in question was not selected. A letter to this effect has issued to the school. Applications from schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has recently announced plans to open at least 13 new post-primary schools over the next five years in the following locations - Gorey, Doughiska (Galway), Lucan (Clonburris), Kingscourt, Ashbourne, Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown West, Drogheda, Claregalway, Maynooth, Naas, Navan and North County Dublin/South County Louth. The Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently...

Written Answers — Foireann Scoile: Foireann Scoile (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Ar leathanach baile shuíomh gréasáin mo Roinne tá nasc dar teideal "Iarraidh ar Aighneachtaí ar athbhreithniú ar an luach airgid um bhunscoileanna beaga" (Bunscoileanna a raibh níos lú ná 50 dalta acu i 2009-10) agus tá an t-eolas atá iarrtha ag an Teachta san áireamh ann.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume that the Deputy is referring to Circular 0070/2010 issued by my Department on 26 November 2010, which outlined that adjustments in salary should be applied, with effect from 1 January 2011, to all relevant staff in the employment of recognised schools or VECs who were not already affected by the pay reductions introduced under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. The grant awarding authority in question has advised my Department that an application for a grant from the student referred to by the Deputy was unsuccessful. I understand that the student appealed this decision to the...

Written Answers — Teaching Council: Teaching Council (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128, 129 and 130 together. The Teaching Council was established under the Teaching Council Act 2001, in March 2006 to promote teaching as a profession and the professional development of teachers, to maintain and improve the quality of teaching in the State, to provide for the establishment of standards, policies and procedures for the education and training...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the changes to the student grant schemes introduced under Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party government were designed to manage additional cost pressures arising from a significant increase in the number of students qualifying for grants, a proportionate increase in the number of students qualifying for higher rates of grants and payment of the Student...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together. Project Maths is designed to encourage better understanding of mathematics, to reinforce its practical relevance to everyday life, and to ensure better curriculum continuity across the system. A key objective is to improve attainment levels in Maths and to encourage more students to take the subject at higher level. The reforms are being...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are over 1,120 language support posts at primary level and 280 wholetime equivalent posts at post primary level in the current school year. The figures for the number of language support posts across the country in previous years are provided as follows. Year Primary Post Primary 2007/2008 1517 479 2008/2009 1620 ...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided significant funding to enhance the accommodation currently occupied by the school to which he refers. The school is located in a former primary school and I am pleased to confirm that my Department provided in excess of €360,000 in 2010 for heating upgrade and improvement works to toilet facilities under the Emergency Works and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The issue referred to by the Deputy relates to the allocation of the 5% administration fee provided for in the Supervision/Substitution scheme. The current arrangements for the allocation of the 5% administration fee provide for the allocation of the fee on the basis of 2.5% towards VEC administration staff and 2.5% to schools. These arrangements are set out in my Department's Circular...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138 and 140 together. I take the issue of bullying in schools very seriously and am committed to ensuring that schools tackle bullying in all its forms. Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools are required to have in place a Code of Behaviour and this code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare Board...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The content of initial teacher education courses is, currently, a matter for the individual providers and the methodologies used to address bullying varies amongst the providers. In accordance with Section 38 of the Teaching Council Act 2001, the Teaching Council is empowered to review and professionally accredit programmes of initial teacher education. The Teaching Council has initiated...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the 1998 Education Act requires Boards of Management of each school to publish the policy of the school relating to participation by students with special educational needs, including students who are exceptionally able. The measures schools take in this regard are required to be stated in the school plan. It is the duty of the Board of Management to ensure...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 May 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 SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This now includes a requirement for...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (10 May 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 SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This now includes a requirement for...