Results 13,361-13,380 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The most recent data available refers to the last complete school year 2009/2010, in which there were 43 primary schools in County Clare with less than 50 pupils. A full list of primary schools with their enrolments can be found on my Department's website www.education.ie.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE) programme is a mandatory part of the curriculum in primary schools and in junior cycle since 2003 and is designed to promote positive mental health. It is supported by comprehensive teacher guidelines and curriculum support services which provide training and advice for schools and a resource directory. Its aim is to foster personal development,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has provided funding to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as follows: €8,515,000 in 2007, €8,219,671.50 in 2008, €9,250,000 in 2009, €9,652,000 in 2010 and €2,254,000 to date in 2011. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was established under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have invited the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), given their concerns about the current proposals for VEC aggregation, to submit alternative proposals for my consideration. The IVEA has indicated that it will respond later this month and I will be considering their proposals in the coming period. While I am open to proposals on alternative configurations, I am anxious to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Apr 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 Fianna Fáil /Green Party government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country now...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 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 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. Additional...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2011, it was not possible to grant aid all applications received under the scheme. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the Scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible works were prioritised and it was not possible to include those relating to window and door...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a new school building. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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. The NCSE has issued a circular to all schools...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware my Department has met on several occasions with both the GAA club and Dublin City Council, in their respective capacities as the land-holders and as the planning authority, to negotiate with both parties an acceptable solution for the provision of a new school building on the site currently occupied by the school. The net result of these discussions was that after...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that due to commercial sensitivities pertaining to site acquisitions generally it is not my Department's policy to provide details of the purchase cost of sites recently acquired as it could jeopardize ongoing site acquisitions.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has no record of having received an application for the building project referred to by the Deputy. If the school in question requires funding for a PE Hall, they should make an application in writing to my Department and it will be assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band rating of 4. The published...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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. I have arranged for the details supplied to...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible works were...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 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 — School Staffing: School Staffing (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are no additional qualification requirements required to teach in a Gaelscoil. The introduction of any such requirements would impact on the capacity to redeploy surplus permanent teachers to any primary school. My Department will be seeking in the coming period to recommence discussions with the relevant education partners, on changes necessary to achieve our objective of absorbing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has written to the DDDA seeking confirmation of the current and ongoing status of the DDDA funding for this project. A response is awaited from the DDDA. The progression of all large-scale building projects, including the project for this school will be considered in the context of my Department's Multi-Annual Schools Building and Modernisation Programme. However, in light of...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (6 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware the area referred to has seen a significant increase in the school-going cohort over recent years. According to my Department's, most recent statistics, additional post primary provision will be needed in this area. The issue of how these extra post primary pupil places will be provided is currently under consideration in my Department. The Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Royal Irish Academy is an All-Ireland, independent academic body that promotes study in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. Its mission is inter alia to promote excellence in scholarship, organise lectures, conferences, academic exchanges and visiting fellowships, manage national research and publication projects and publish academic journals etc. The Academy is funded through...