Results 10,161-10,180 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria under which National Schools are recognised by my Department are outlined in the Education Act 1998 and the Rules for National Schools. Under the criteria, recognition can be withdrawn where a school's pupil enrolment returns to the Department, at 30th September, falls below 8 pupils and remains at this level for at least two consecutive years and where the Patron is satisfied...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. My Department has published the staffing arrangements at post primary level for the coming school year, 2012/13. The relevant Post Primary circular is 0009/2012 which is available on my Department's website. At post primary level schools will have autonomy on how best to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target available funding at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. All 195 second-level schools in DEIS, including eight of the VEC secondary schools referred to by the Deputy, have been given targeted support by a more favourable staffing schedule of 18.25:1. This is a 0.75 point reduction compared to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedule. The VEC referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal and will be notified of the outcome of the appeal when the appeal process is completed. The Appeal Board operate independently of the Department and its decision is final. The final...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been ongoing contact with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the proposal to which he refers. A number of potential sites identified have been deemed unsuitable. However, my officials will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders in relation to identifying a suitable site. The acquisition of a site will be considered in the context...

Written Answers — Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge: Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Tionóladh cruinniú tionscnaimh den Ghrúpa Idir-Rannach ar an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 ar 8 Feabhra 2012. Bhí ionadaithe i láthair ó roinnt ranna rialtais, an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ina measc. Nótáil an cruinniú tiomantas an Rialtais go gcuirfí forfheidhmiú na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge chun cinn laistigh d'acmhainní buiséid atá ann cheana....

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department actively seeks ways to minimise any disruption to class time. In 2011, Circulars 8 and 25 set out new arrangements for schools, whereby an additional hour per teacher per week is available in order to provide for a range of essential activities to take place without reducing class contact/tuition time. School management may designate the use of the additional time to deal with...

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: While every effort is made to reduce the impact on teaching time, this is not always possible due to the logistics and numbers of teachers involved in, for example, the national roll out of CPD programmes associated with new or revised curricula, or the implementation of national strategies such as the literacy and numeracy strategy. CPD is offered during school time only when it is...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of junior infants enrolled in 2012/13 will be compiled based on the National School Annual Census Returns 2012/13. Results of the 2012/13 census will be published in September 2013.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The capital allocations for my Department were set out in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework published last November. The schools sector has an allocation for each of the five years as follows: 2012 - €359.5m; 2013 - €364m; 2014 - €464m; 2015 - €471m; and 2016 - €411m. It is expected that the full allocation for 2012 will be expended...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March I announced details of 219 major school building projects which will begin construction over the next five years. This was in addition to the 56 major school building projects already announced for 2012. Due to financial constraints and the need to prioritise projects which will meet the increasing demographic needs over the coming years, it was not possible to include all projects...

Written Answers — Teaching Council: Teaching Council (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council's annual accounts for 2011 show a surplus of c. €11m. Of this amount, €4m has been set aside by the Council to cater for contingencies. Interest on funds in 2011 amounted to €252,000 (2010 - €146,000). This interest forms part of the overall income of the Council. The surplus finance will be used to meet the increased costs of the Council as it expands its...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced a review of allowances and premium payments. Circular 0003/2012 stipulates that allowances are not payable to new beneficiaries; i.e. those who become eligible for receipt of the allowance in question on or after 1 February 2012. Chief Executive Officers who are appointed in a temporary acting capacity...

Human Rights Issues (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Approximately 15 months after the Libyan uprising began it is clear the Libyan people, supported by the international community, are making progress towards establishing a democratic and functioning state. However, as the Deputy indicated, major challenges remain. Ireland has engaged actively on this issue in the UN and EU frameworks, lending support to international efforts to promote...

Human Rights Issues (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. No one underestimates the challenges facing Libya today. It has suffered four decades of misrule by one man and the country must be rebuilt virtually from scratch. This is a very difficult task in this modern time. It is vital that respect for and promotion of human rights remain central to the mission of the current interim government...

Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Scoil Bhríde primary school in Portlaoise. I welcome the opportunity it affords me to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in school building projects over the next five years. It also allows me to outline the new school accommodation to be delivered in Portlaoise under the five-year construction programme and to update the...

Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am not.

Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Portlaoise deserves them.

Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: We fully recognise that Portlaoise is quite extraordinary and unique in the scale and rapidity with which the population has increased. There are procedures in place and we have brought forward our procedures six weeks ahead of the projected time. There are difficulties with the management and the Department, and the Deputy is better placed to find out about those on the ground. Certainly,...

Higher Education Grants (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, as part of the overall budget measures announced last December, it was signalled that it is proposed to amend the means test for student grants to take account of the value of certain capital assets as well as income for new applicants from the 2013-14 academic year. A capital asset test implementation group has been convened to develop and bring forward detailed...