Results 10,961-10,980 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Overseas Study Placements: Overseas Study Placements (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I accept the desirability of promoting work and study placements in European countries in order to acquire expertise, including linguistic competency. Considerable numbers of Irish students are currently studying or working abroad. National targets are a feature of the Lifelong Learning Programme (LLP) of the European Union, which is designed to promote educational mobility in the European...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am currently leading the reform of the Junior Cycle. A Framework for the revised Junior Cycle has been prepared. It contains 24 Statements of Learning which students should experience during their junior cycle. These 24 statements will provide the basis for school planning and evaluation. They will involve not only the combination of curriculum components (subjects and short courses)...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. The Department's policy, detailed in the Government's National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, is that pupils will learn two languages, English and Irish in primary schools. The Strategy is being implemented since its publication in July of last year. There are no plans in the current budgetary situation to extend the range of languages...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Students at third level currently have access to a wide range of foreign language courses that can be taken as core subjects or in combination with a range of other disciplines. Information on all language courses, including those relevant to emerging markets, is available on the Qualifax website www.qualifax.ie. In addition, almost 150 new part time higher education places on foreign...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCSE has notified all schools of their allocation for the 2012/13 school year of resource hours for low incidence special needs. The arrangements for how schools access these resource hours in teaching posts are set out in the Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. Under these arrangements a network of over 2,500 full-time resource posts has been put in place in close to 1,700 base...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. It is not possible to allow grant aid where reckonable income exceeds the prescribed limits, regardless of individual circumstances. If the applicant is unhappy with the decision in relation to his grant application he/she may appeal the decision of the grant awarding authority to its...

Written Answers — Child Protection: Child Protection (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs published the Heads of the Children First Bill on the 24th April last. I fully support this Bill, the purpose of which is to put Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children on a statutory basis. Last autumn, my Department published updated Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The curriculum in schools is devised on the basis that ICT is not a subject but rather a tool to be integrated into the teaching and learning of all subjects. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has developed an ICT framework which sets out a structured approach to ICT in curriculum and assessment. This sets out the types of learning appropriate for students during the period...

Written Answers — Fee Paying Schools: Fee Paying Schools (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following documents. Further to the details included in the documents an additional €28,183.62 of Assistive Technology grants issued to Fee Charging Schools in the 2011/12 school year. ALL FEE PAYING SCHOOLS GROSS SALARY COSTS 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR Figures are up to 9 July 2012 School No. School Address Total Gross Teachers...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. Teachers in all schools are paid on an incremental salary scale. All teachers employed before 1 February 2012 receive an allowance appropriate to their qualifications. Principals are paid an allowance in respect of the duties attached to this post. In addition there are other allowances which may be paid to teachers depending on the type...

Written Answers — Pilot Training Courses: Pilot Training Courses (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the students of the Pilot Training College (PTC) in Waterford undertake a 3 year BSc (Hons) in Airline Transport Operations in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). There are 8 students currently on this course. PTC is responsible for the recruitment of students onto the programmes and students pay course fees directly to that company, not to WIT. I...

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Two Special Advisors were appointed to assist me in carrying out my functions and advising me on educational policy. In accordance with the terms of the Ethics in Public Office Acts copies of the appointees' contracts of employment together with details of their qualifications were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 28th, October 2011.

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The following is a list of special advisors that served during the tenure of the last three Ministers at this Department. As allowed for under the staffing guidelines for Ministerial Offices Ms. Coughlan had three special advisors as in addition to her ministerial portfolio she held the office of Tánaiste: Mary Coughlan, T.D. An Tánaiste & Minister for Education & Science 23rd March 2010...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the attached documents. Further to the details included in the documents an additional €28,183.62 of Assistive Technology grants issued to Fee Charging Schools in the 2011/12 school year. ALL FEE PAYING SCHOOLS GROSS SALARY COSTS 2011-2012 SCHOOL YEAR Figures are up to 9 July 2012 School No. School Address Total Gross Teachers Total...

Written Answers — School Funding: School Funding (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The capital investment in schools in County Clare made by my Department for the period requested May 2007 to end 2011 amounted to €40.292m. In addition each primary school with full recognition received the Minor Works Grant in 2007, 2008 and 2009. The Minor Works Grant comprises a basic grant of €5,500 plus €18.50 per mainstream pupil and €74 per special needs pupil. The €40.292m...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that Donegal VEC have informed my Department that submissions have been sought for possible suitable sites for the development to which he refers. I understand that the submissions have been received and are currently being assessed by Donegal VEC.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The guidance given to the 66 awarding authorities, the local authorities and VECs, in relation to the application of the distance criterion, for determining whether the adjacent or non-adjacent rate of grant applied, provided for the measurement of the shortest most direct route to the institution from the normal residence. The awarding authorities were best positioned to interpret the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy is referring to the General Allocation Model (GAM) of additional teaching supports which are allocated to all Primary schools to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs. As I have previously advised the Deputy, differing pupil teacher ratios are applied under the GAM in relation to boys, girls and mixed schools in order to account for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Following completion of Stage 2a (Developed Sketch Design) and assuming no issues arise, the project will then proceed to stage 2(b) which includes planning permission and the preparation of tender documents. Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 1 Submission (Preliminary Sketch Design) and, when complete, the school will forward this submission to my Department for review. Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise...