Results 13,221-13,240 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a value for money review was initiated in October 2010 by the then Fianna Fáil/Green Party government in order to establish the value for money being achieved from state funding of small primary schools. This review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure. I have no predetermined view...

Written Answers — Physical Education: Physical Education (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: It is my belief that a well planned Physical Education programme has a vitally important role to play in a broad and balanced curriculum for our primary and second level students. At primary level, Physical Education is one of seven curriculum areas within the revised Primary School Curriculum launched in 1999 and implemented on a phased basis over the period to 2008. Physical Education was...

Written Answers — Private Education: Private Education (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to him.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The brief for the building project to which the Deputy refers was revised in 2007 from an extension and refurbishment of existing accommodation to one intended to provide two new schools on the existing site. The Deputy will note that this project was not included in the 2011 school building work programme announced earlier this year. The progression of all large scale building projects,...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts, including temporary posts, takes place in the context of the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland and the Public Service Agreement 2010/2014. It is necessary for my Department to exercise additional control and reporting measures this year to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The previous Government decided to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16 and on the merger of particular counties. I am anxious to ensure that progress continues to be made in the work on bringing about a reduction in the number of VECs. I have recently extended an invitation to the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) to submit alternative rationalisation proposals, following...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 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 teaching hours to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. In respect of the allocation of Resource...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The temporary accommodation solution referred to by the Deputy was procured by the Board of Management of Scoil Chonaill and my Department meets the rental costs for the period. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that it is envisaged that the building project at Scoil Chonaill should be completed in the third quarter of 2011. With regard to water charges for schools, the Deputy will be aware...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that it is not possible to give a derogation to any individual school in relation to the requirements of Circular 67/2010. The rationale for this circular was to maximise the opportunities for the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers. The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts, including...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a value for money review was initiated in October 2010 by the then Fianna Fáil/Green Party government in order to establish the value for money being achieved from state funding of small primary schools. This review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure. I have no predetermined...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, currently under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved higher education institution. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a new mainstream classroom to replace an existing classroom. The application was considered and the school was advised that it was not possible to grant aid the application. A letter to this effect has issued to the school. The capital budget allocated to my Department has been reduced this year and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Following the commencement on 1 January 2011 of the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010, the Department of Social Protection assumed the funding and overall responsibility for FÁS employment services and employment programmes. My Department has retained the funding and overall responsibility for the remaining functions of FÁS, including the provision...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The current minimum educational requirements for appointment as a Special Needs Assistant (SNA) include the specific requirement that a person hold a Grade D in Irish, English and Mathematics in the Junior Certificate or equivalent examination. Under Circular 0021/2011, issued by my Department in March this year, the minimum required standard of education for appointment to the post of SNA...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs in school settings. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware many areas in Dublin have seen a significant increase in the school going cohort over recent years and additional school provision will be needed in certain areas to cater for this increase. The issue of how these extra pupil places will be provided is currently under consideration in my Department. A project with a brief for a small extension and refurbishment of...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A major programme of reform in Mathematics is under way in all second level schools since September last, building on the experience of 24 schools which began the programme in 2008. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that a proposal for an academy for children with autism has been received by officials in my Department who will revert to the organisation in question shortly. However it is important to emphasise that the proposal will be considered in the context of my Department's policy in this regard. My Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children including...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's most recent projections indicate that enrolments at post-primary level will rise from current levels of circa 312,200 pupils to about 336,600 pupils by the year 2017 and at primary level enrolments are expected to increase from the current total enrolment of circa 505,600 pupils to an expected enrolment circa 567,300 pupils by the year 2017. It is within this context that the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 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...