Results 12,201-12,220 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education, Quality Assurance (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, FETAC was formally dissolved on 6 November and its functions are now undertaken by the new amalgamated qualifications and quality assurance body, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI). While the new agency will, over the coming months, establish its own policies and processes for quality assurance, programme validation and awarding, as well as for its other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions 85 to 87, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has already approved grant aid towards the provision of an additional classroom at the school to which he refers to facilitate an additional teacher appointment. The school subsequently sought to expand the project and in this regard, my officials have advised the principal that a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Correspondence (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand my Department has responded to certain queries raised by the teaching staff of the school referred to by the Deputy. In the case of one teacher arrangements are being made to pay arrears of salary.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education. The purpose of the report, which I requested, was to identify new possible structures to improve initial teacher education in Ireland so that it is comparable with the best in the world. The international panel of education experts...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The objective of the Student Assistance Fund, is to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level studies....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: An integral part of the overall plan for the reform of the administration of student grants is to move on an incremental basis to an earlier grant application process, with a view to ensuring earlier decisions on grant applications, and more timely payment of grants. Opening the application process early would enable the necessary information to be submitted, so that an application can then...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will appreciate that as the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget including Budget 2013 is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the Budget announcement.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Semi-State Sector Remuneration (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Information in respect of the number of semi-State agency executives and employees that have salaries of more than €100,000 per year, including any additional allowances and bonuses are included in the table. As matters relating to pay and pensions are an administration matter for the bodies themselves the information requested by the Deputy in respect of the annual cost to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Semi-State Sector Remuneration (21 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. I can confirm, in respect of FÁS, 3 former members of staff are in receipt of pensions in excess of €90,000 per annum. Details of non commercial state agencies under the remit of my Department can be downloaded from my Department's website.

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move:That Dáil Éireann:welcomes ‘A Framework for junior cycle’ which was launched by the Minister for Education and Skills on 4 October 2012; notes that the new junior cycle programme will provide for a broader education for students including:— a greater flexibility for schools to develop their own programmes to meet the needs and interests of their students;...

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There is a group of subjects.

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Agreed.

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It will also form part of the national qualifications framework.

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There is no proposal to prohibit people from doing history and geography.

A Framework for Junior Cycle: Motion (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Unfortunately, I must leave now. I appreciate the Deputy's contribution and those of other Deputies. I will be paying close attention to the rest of what she has to say.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising unemployed registered teachers over retired registered teachers and registered teachers over unregistered persons. Each principal must report to his or her board of management on a regular basis on the fact that a list of unemployed registered teachers is being maintained, and the circumstances in which...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Courses (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the figures the Deputy is referring to were contained in an ESRI report commissioned by the HEA and issued last Friday. It is important to note that postgraduate enrolments have increased significantly in recent years. According to data from the Higher Education Authority, there were nearly 35,000 postgraduate enrolments in 2011/2012 academic year, representing an 7.5%...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The professional added years terms for members of the Education Sector Superannuation Scheme in Institutes of Technology were introduced by the Department of the Environment in 1987, Circular S6/1987. In accordance with the relevant pension scheme rules, there is provision for the granting of a gross award of up to ten professional added years where the minimum age limit or qualifications...