Results 9,781-9,800 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on my Department's website. This includes the detail of the reform of the allocation process which is designed to bring a more equitable distribution of existing posts between schools. The new arrangements incorporate a long overdue updating of the GAM (learning support)...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information available in my Department in regard to the request by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded directly to him. The information will relate to teachers in Primary, Secondary, Community and Comprehensive Schools. My Department does not hold information on the payment of increments to teachers employed by vocational education committees (VECs). Each VEC is a separate...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My priority as Minister for Education and Skills is to preserve access to undergraduate higher education courses despite the difficult circumstances in our public finances. As a result, no changes were made to the eligibility criteria for undergraduate students in Budget 2012. It is also worth emphasising that 41% of all undergraduate students currently receive a grant and pay no student...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Budget 2012 introduced a phased increase in the pupil threshold for the allocation of classroom teachers in small primary schools. This increase is necessary given our budgetary constraints and rapidly rising school population. It is being phased in over three years to allow communities consider options for re-organisation. We have to ensure that the very valuable but limited resources we...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the review of allowances in the public service which is ongoing at the moment is being conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform and I understand that the Minister intends to bring proposals to Government shortly. The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement, including that there will be no further...

Written Answers — Third Level Participation: Third Level Participation (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Ireland currently performs very strongly in terms of participation in higher education and has the highest tertiary attainment rate among 25-34 year olds in the European Union. Projections published by my Department in June 2011 show that the demand for higher education in Ireland is set to grow by 62% in the next twenty years. While welcome, the scale of projected growth will present major...

Written Answers — Apprenticeship Programmes: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The recently announced Government "Action Plan for Jobs" confirmed a commitment to review our apprenticeship model this year. The intention is to provide an updated model of training that will deliver the necessary skilled workforce to service the needs of a rapidly changing economy. My Department has begun work on a paper setting out the various issues, including those referred to in the...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for these difficult and challenging times. A Value for Money...

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 42 together. Higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing applications to their undergraduate courses and as autonomous institutions are responsible for setting their own eligibility and other entry criteria. Higher Education institutions are currently considering and progressing implementation of the recommendations...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The post graduate course for primary teaching was introduced as a response to a shortage in the supply of primary teachers. The course has not been incorporated as a permanent feature of primary teacher training. The decision to provide further courses is generally made on an annual basis depending on the teacher supply situation. Intake to the courses was reduced in 2010 to 200 places and...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 275 together. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met last week. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board. A summary outcome of the appeals is...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A key priority for my Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant, given the current economic climate and the target to reduce public expenditure. This limits the capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme. In this context, I have no immediate plans to undertake the type of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June 2011, I announced the establishment of 40 new schools nationally within the next six years, comprising of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools including a new post primary school for Claregalway which will be established from September 2013. My Department will be in communication with all those schools on the programme at the appropriate time in relation to...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 281 together. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant 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 form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. I understand that the college referred to by the Deputy is a private college and is not listed as an approved institution for student grant purposes. The Deputy will appreciate that, in the current economic...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as...

Written Answers — Third Level Facilities: Third Level Facilities (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. I am arranging for the information to be compiled and the available data will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for these difficult and challenging times. A Value for...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools are required to have in place a Code of Behaviour and this code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The NEWB guidelines were issued to schools in 2008 and make it clear that each school must have policies to prevent or address bullying and harassment and schools must make...