Results 7,081-7,100 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Written Answers — Education Reform: Education Reform (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The results of the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), undertaken in 65 countries in 2009, were published on 7 December 2010. Finland scored above the OECD average in reading literacy, mathematics and science, and is often cited as an example of excellence in educational practice. Whilst there are no plans to specifically adopt the Finnish education system,...
- Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of a Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) school to the VEC in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for...
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: In line with international best practice, the Primary School Curriculum (1999) advocates the use of resources to develop mathematics concepts. This includes the use of calculators from Fourth Class onwards. In Irish primary schools, calculators are primarily used to check answers and perform routine calculations and best practice includes their use to enhance mathematics reasoning and...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. For the Deputy's information, details to date for 2011 are also included. Expense Account Credit Card Holder Credit Limit Year Expenditure Minister*-Batt O'Keeffe â¬10,000 2008 â¬1,760.48 2009 â¬61.00 Private Secretary to The Minister â¬10,000 2007 â¬1,056.35 2008 â¬2,806.45 2009 â¬3,901.65 7,500 2010...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 to 187, inclusive, together. At a Government meeting held on the 15th March, 2011, it was decided to reduce the number of staff permitted in Minister's Private Offices from 10 to 8 and Minister of State's Private Offices from 7 to 5. The number of staff permitted in Minister's Constituency Offices has been reduced from 6 to 4 and Ministers of State's...
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. The priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the teaching...
- Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 190 to 195, inclusive, together. I am advised by the Teaching Council that there are almost 4,100 qualified Maths teachers currently on the register of teachers. Of these, just over 500 teachers are aged between 55 and 59 (nearing retirement), while less than 230 are aged 60 and over. In relation to the qualifications of those currently teaching mathematics...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The expenditure incurred by my Department's IT Unit in 2010 was â¬1.334m on capital and â¬1.783m on current. There is provision of â¬2m for capital and â¬2.395m for current expenditure in 2011. The purchase of IT equipment by my Department is on the basis of a competitive tendering process, conducted in compliance with national and EU rules. There are framework arrangements in place,...
- Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: Departmental submissions to the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure (CRE) are a central part of the overall pre-budget deliberations of the Government. As such, release of these documents could not be considered in advance of Government decisions on the forthcoming Budget. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has already indicated that it is his intention to publish the Reports...
- Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has made an application to my Department for funding towards the provision of additional accommodation at the school. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the application has been approved and the school authorities have been informed in writing.
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: A fundamental element of the building cost limits for all school building projects is the Basic Building Cost (BBC). The Basic Building Cost is expressed as a cost per square metre of the new build floor area. My Department keeps the Basic Building Cost under review in line with cost developments in the construction industry generally and the cost of school building projects in particular....
- Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Sep 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: In 2010, the NCTE provided teacher Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to 11,353 teachers via the education centre network and on-line. The cost of delivery of this CPD in 2010 was ⬠958,751.22. A wide range of courses is provided by NCTE consisting of standard, NCTE-designed courses, courses tailored to the needs of the school (known as Whole School Training), more informal support...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: In 2010, the NCTE funded the INTO to provide 2 courses to 597 teachers in total. The total cost was â¬52,966.20 (including the cost of course updates, tutor training, administration and related fees). Courses for which the delivery was part-funded in 2010 were: Supporting and Developing ICT as a Teaching and Learning Resource Beyond 2020: Using Technology in the Primary School. The...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: NCTE courses are unique in that they are designed and delivered by qualified teachers based on nationally and locally identified need and government priorities, such as literacy and numeracy. They are available throughout the year and are fully funded by NCTE, so that teachers do not have to pay course fees. Most courses are delivered face to face to ensure that teachers gain adequate...
- Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The redundancy application made by the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed and will be paid to her shortly.
- Written Answers — Teacher Numbers: Teacher Numbers (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together. The five state funded Colleges of Education offer the Bachelor of Education for primary teaching and four of the Colleges offer an 18 month post graduate primary education course. Hibernia College, a private provider, also offers a postgraduate course. There are 15 providers of Post Primary initial teacher education courses. Students...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 213 and 231 together. The Deputy will be aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 216 together. The Deputy will be aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating teaching staff and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to special schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Sep 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The NCTE does not seek applications for funding in relation to the provision of courses as it is fully engaged in delivering its own training programme. However, if an application is received from an Education Partner body, it is considered in accordance with Department guidelines and in particular if the proposal will advance the ICT programme in schools. Approval is also subject to the...