Results 9,701-9,720 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data...

Irish Language (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A number of education related actions in the 20-year strategy are already underway, especially in regard to teacher education, reform of the curriculum at primary and post-primary level and the provision of teaching resources. The strategy recognises the importance of equipping teachers to teach through the medium of Irish. As part of the national literacy and numeracy strategy, I have...

Irish Language (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have taken note of Deputy Crowe's supplementary questions. Some of the queries raised are not fully covered in the documents before me. I will write to the Deputy about these. Since we had to find savings somewhere we reduced the financial support for teachers taking support courses in the Gaeltacht. The arrangement now is that they make the contribution for the courses. I am speaking...

Irish Language (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy's concerns. However, within reason all sections of the education budget had to take some portion of the overall burden of budget adjustment. There was a favourable pupil-teacher ratio for gaelscoileanna compared with other schools. I have removed that favourable ratio. As Deputy Crowe is aware, this has in no way indicated a decline in the demand for participation...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A clear, four stage process and criteria for designation as technological university was published in February of this year. Institutions proposing to merge and apply for designation as technological universities, including those in the south east, must submit a formal expression of interest within a six month period and will be advised within a further six months whether they can proceed to...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As part of the process, the Higher Education Authority has written to all the institutions, including the institutes of technology and other third level colleges. The authority has given the institutions six months to respond to the recommendations of what is known as the Hunt report, the review of higher education that my predecessor and the Administration of which Deputy Smith was a member...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am unsure of the precise technical answer to that question but let me offer an opinion. I have established a good working relationship with my counterpart in Northern Ireland who now has total responsibility for higher level education. This was previously the remit of another Minister in the Executive there. He has the same range as I have now. We are considering cross-Border...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have embarked on a survey in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Mr. John O'Dowd, of parents of children at both primary and post-primary level living along a corridor 30 km wide from Derry to Newry with a view to determining the degree of demand for sending children across the Border to school for whatever reason, whether ethos, convenience, catchment area or...

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Since becoming Minister I have written to the chairpersons of university governing bodies requesting them to ask all relevant individuals, including presidents, earning in excess of €200,000 to make voluntary waivers of salary. While two individuals, one of whom is a university head, have agreed to make personal arrangements with their employer regarding a deduction of the amount of salary...

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Subject to confirmation, I understand the reason they are excluded is that they have a dual employment in that they have chosen, within the nature of medical education, to be both teachers and practising consultants at the same time. As such, their salary is from two sources, bringing it way over the €200,000 benchmark.

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have no immediate proposals to renew my request. However, I am convening a meeting with the presidents and chairpersons of the governing bodies of the various third level institutions at which this issue may well be on the agenda.

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am conscious that some of the older universities are not accustomed to the close engagement of either the Higher Education Authority or the Department. The types of economies to which Deputy Smith referred are self-evident common sense. No commercial enterprise could afford to allow expensive plant and equipment to lie idle for long periods. Nor is this an issue only in the university...

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy about the challenges arising from rapidly increasing enrolments in our schools. That is why certain budgetary measures regarding teacher allocations have been introduced and further measures will be required in future years in order to manage teacher payroll costs. My Department is projecting that enrolments at second level will continue to rise over the next decade,...

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Whatever about the Deputy, I certainly do not intend to be here.

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I share Deputy Brendan Smith's sentiments and assure him that there is serious long-term planning within the Department. It has been reinforced since my arrival at its Marlborough Street headquarters. The Department has put in place a new design and build procurement process and mobilised additional resources from across the public sector. For example, the Office of Public Works has spare...

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This is not a reflection on Deputy Brendan Smith in any way because he probably shared my view, but at the height of the boom, the previous Administration could have induced developers to set aside school sites free of charge.

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes. Given the acreage required, some school sites come with a price tag of approximately €3 million. At the time developers would have happily agreed to set aside the sites, as the cost would have been spread across the development cost of the entire project. However, this simply was not done.

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The new dedicated staffing schedule, when applied to the school referred to by the Deputy, ensures this school operates its entitlement under the DEIS programme to a more favourable pupil-teacher ratio of 20:1. In addition, the school will retain the more favourable pupil-teacher ratios under previous disadvantage schemes for the 2012-13 school year. Owing to a falling enrolment, the school...

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy. Let us get the facts and deal with them properly.