Results 1,881-1,900 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is set out on the table. Department of Education and Skills - Career Breaks 0-6 months 6-12 months 1-2 years 2-3 years 4-5 years 5 years plus - 3 6 3 6 2

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested was provided in a response to a similar parliamentary question tabled by the Deputy on the 18th, June 2013 (Reference Number:150).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Education Review (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Visiting Teacher Service for children with Visual and Hearing Impairment provides assistance for children who are deaf or hard of hearing and children who are blind or visually impaired. In May 2013 the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) brought forward policy advice which recommended that the service should be reviewed. Accordingly, an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 295 together. The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts for the 14/15 school year is set out in Primary Circular 0007/2014 which is available on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the standard maximum period of second-level education is six years. The circumstances in which an individual pupil may repeat a year at post-primary level, and the arrangements that apply in this regard, are set out in my Departments Circular M02/95, which is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. The terms of the Circular apply to all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Value for Money Reviews (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The value for money review of small primary schools was conducted by a Steering Committee, comprising civil servants from relevant Government Departments and was led by an independent external chairperson. The chairperson was paid the standard fee for chairing a Value for Money Review, namely €1,800 gross. The other committee members undertook the review work as part of their range...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations to all schools are approved annually by my Department in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The staffing schedule at primary level operates on the basis of 1 classroom teacher for an average of every 28 pupils. Teachers are allocated at post-primary level on the basis of 1 teacher for every 19 pupils (23 pupils in the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter in the first instance for the awarding authority. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused on 31 January, 2014. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all the relevant details that would be contained...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, to which the Deputy refers, has not submitted an application for summer works, but has recently submitted an application for funding for additional accommodation. The application concerned is currently being assessed and a decision will be conveyed to the school authorities when this process has been finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that funding towards the provision of one mainstream classroom and one resource room was approved by my Department for the school, in question, in December last.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 262 to 268, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying of Children (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of the findings of the Net Children Go Mobile Report in relation to online bullying. The Report provides the initial findings from Ireland and is part of the Net Children Go Mobile European two-year research project under the European Commission's Safer Internet Programme. It builds on previous research by the EU Kids Online network into...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Security Checks (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has not engaged any external contractors or other experts to conduct any surveillance/bugging checks of Ministerial and/or departmental offices in the period referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The longer term options in respect of the provision of permanent accommodation for the school, referred to by the Deputy, are currently being considered in the context of other school developments in the area and the reorganisation of existing accommodation. More recently, my Department received correspondence from the school, in question, in relation to issues arising in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter in the first instance for the awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application in relation to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being significantly reduced for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: For the Deputies information no new agencies were established by my Department since March 2011, however under the Public Service Reform plan, the following were identified for rationalisation or merger and since March 2011 the following actions have taken place. The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parent and Student Charter (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, I am committed to providing for a Parent and Student Charter. My Department is currently examining the legislative changes that could provide the statutory underpinning of such a charter and enable the detailed development of the charter in discussion with the relevant stakeholders, including parents and students. It remains my intention to publish my plans during the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I refer the Deputy to my announcement on 7th November last relating to the allocation of almost €70 million for school improvements. Over €28 million is being made available as a once-off payment to primary schools as part of the Minor Works Grant scheme and this grant was furnished to the schools in November 2013. Another €40 million will be allocated under the Summer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (18 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together. The Deputy raises two matters in her questions and I would like to deal with each in turn. Firstly, the allocation of SNA resources to schools is not a matter for this Department but is instead an independent function carried out by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs...