Results 10,361-10,380 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council is a self funding body with income generated by way of teacher registration and renewal fees. Currently more than 70,000 teachers are registered and 7,500 teachers apply for registration each year. Under Section 23 of the Act, the Council has statutory authority to charge a fee and in this regard the annual teacher registration fee has been set at €90 per teacher per...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government has protected education as much as it can. Far greater reductions in expenditure and in the number of public servants are being made in other sectors relative to those in schools. But there are limits to the level of expenditure on education and the number of teaching posts we can afford. The Budget 2012 measures in relation to the post-primary sector are set out in the...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection of participants for FÁS 'reskilling' courses is currently a matter for the Department of Social Protection. Within its Adult Training provision, FÁS currently offers two Horticulture Programmes. One leads to a FETAC Award at Level 4 and the other a FETAC Award at Level 5. These major awards were led by TEAGASC in their development as they are the Authority in Ireland for...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, Institutes of Technology are autonomous bodies and it is a matter for each institution to ensure that their policies and procedures are compliant with employment law. In that regard, I have been informed by Dublin Institute of Technology that it is satisfied that its policy as referred to in the Deputy's question is in accordance with employment law. I would also...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs in order to ensure that, wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education. The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project referred by the Deputy was included in the 5 year construction programme announced in March and is scheduled to commence construction in 2013. A stage 2(b) submission was received in the Department in April and following a review by the Department a letter issued to the Design Team. The Department is currently awaiting a response from the Design Team. The next stage for...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 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 role....

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The recent recruitment of the Director of the Teaching Council was by way of open competition and was carried out in accordance with good human resources practice. The post of Director of the Teaching Council was advertised on the Public Appointments Service website and also in the National Press. The salary scale for Post of Director is: €90, 355 - €110,844 (or as appropriate to the...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. There are thirty seven members appointed to the Teaching Council. Under the Teaching Council Act 2001 twenty two members are either directly elected teachers or nominated by teacher trade unions. No salary is paid for being a member of the Council. However, members are entitled to and receive expenses in accordance with Public Service...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council is an independent statutory body established by the Teaching Council Act 2001 and my Department is not involved in the day to day affairs of the Council. The membership of the Council is as set out in the Act. There are 16 elected teachers on the Council. The Council is subject to the normal corporate governance arrangements applicable to public bodies. Neither the Act...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Staff including the original appointees, are recruited by way of open competition, in accordance with norms, procedures and practices which generally apply to appointments to public sector posts. The composition of the Council provides for teacher representation. Of the 37 member Council, 16 are elected teachers and a further 6 members are nominated by teacher unions. The Council is...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council is an independent body established under the Teaching Council Act. Section 33 of the Teaching Council Act deals with the renewal of registration. Renewal of registration involves an application and payment of the renewal fee. The Council is responsible for the administrative arrangements in this matter. I understand that the Council has in the past provided the option...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together. The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession. The Council seeks to set and uphold high professional standards for teaching and teachers. It does this in the interests of pupils and the public good but equally for the reputation and status of the profession. Quality of teaching has been determined as...

Written Answers — Regulatory Bodies: Regulatory Bodies (6 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council Act includes provisions governing membership, funding, accountability and the council's relationship with the Department. The legislation provides for the appointment of a 37 member council. The council has responsibility for operationalising the provisions of the Act and the development of the necessary organisational and collaborative strategies and structures for the...

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Rigorously constructed surveys of attainment in English reading and mathematics have been carried out since the 1970s. The 2009 National Assessments of Mathematics and English Reading, which are the most recent in this series of national assessments, provide baseline data for future national assessments in mathematics and English reading at second and sixth class but are not directly...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not have any plans at present to issue a circular on the teaching of English in Gaeltacht schools specifically. My Department issued a Circular (56/2011) to primary schools regarding the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy in November 2011 and this may be accessed on the website of my Department. This circular to primary schools covered issues relating to time...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. In order for an applicant whose reckonable income is from self employment/farming to be assessed for a student grant, Article 22 (1) of the Student Grant Scheme 2011 stipulates that the following documentary evidence listed in Schedule 5 is required: 1. Copy of accounts (that is, trading...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. They have in place criteria for reasonable accommodation including an independent appeals system. All applications for reasonable accommodations are considered in light of a published Framework of Principles as set out by the Expert Advisory Group on examinations....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: School management authorities and the INTO have developed a specific procedure to address staff relations difficulties or conflicts which is contained in a booklet entitled Working Together. This procedure includes a mediation facility whereby a trained mediator from the INTO/management panel may work with a staff in order to achieve a framework to address and resolve the issues of...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (7 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, in June of last year I announced that 20 new post-primary schools are to be established up to 2017 across a number of locations to cater for increasing demographics. This announcement included a proposal to establish a new post-primary school to serve the area referred to by the Deputy. In that regard, my Department is working with the Local Authority to identify a...