Results 12,221-12,240 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It is not my intention to introduce additional mandatory subjects for study at Senior Cycle. Currently, the approved course for recognised Senior Cycle students of the established Leaving Certificate must include no fewer than five subjects of which one must be Irish (unless the student has an exemption from Irish). Overall, I am in favour of leaving the decisions on what is offered at the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Towards a Higher Education Landscape" published in February 2012 initiated a process of engagement by the HEA with higher education institutions with a view to providing me with advice on the future configuration and development of the higher education system. One of the key objectives of the system development process is to increase the diversity of mission and provision within the higher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Teaching resources are allocated to schools on a school year basis. Unlike most other areas of the public service teaching vacancies are being filled in accordance with published Department criteria. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools in the coming years is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of budgetary...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the student referred to by the Deputy was paid the first instalment of their grant on 18th October, 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target resources at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. The current economic climate and the challenge to meet significant targets on reducing public expenditure and operating within a ceiling on overall teacher numbers, limits opportunities and means that there is no capacity to provide for an extension...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am fully aware of the seriousness of the issue of bullying and it was for that reason that an Anti-Bullying Forum was held in May this year. As a follow on to that Forum, I invited the stakeholders and any other interested parties to submit their views on this important topic to my Department by 29th June 2012. As part of this consultation, interested parties were requested to indicate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Registration Fees (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department and the Department of Justice and Equality are in frequent communication regarding all aspects of international education issues as members of the high level group on international education, which is chaired by my Department. As the Deputy is aware, the specific issue of fees which are levied by the immigration authorities in respect of non-EEA nationals is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In common with many other psychological services and best international practice, NEPS has adopted a consultative model of service. The focus is on empowering teachers to intervene effectively with pupils whose needs range from mild to severe and transient to enduring. Psychologists use a problem solving and solution focused consultative approach to maximize positive outcomes for these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that all schools, including the school attended by the pupil in question, are in receipt of learning support/resource teaching support under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM), as outlined in my previous reply of 15 November, 2012 to the Deputy. The GAM allocations for all primary schools were updated this year, for the 2012/13 school year. An...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together. The Education and Training Boards Bill was published on 5 October 2012 and completed Second Stage in Dáil Éireann on 17 October 2012. Following completion of the Second Stage, the Bill has been referred to the Select Sub-committee on Education and Skills. An order cannot be made in respect of any provision in the Bill until...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on the 21st November, 2012 a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

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

Ruairi Quinn: In addition to the maintenance grant support is also available to students under the Student Assistance Fund which assists students in third-level institutions in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available through the Access Officer in the third level institution attended. The Access Officers themselves will also continue to provide support and advice to students to...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The National Strategy for Higher Education sets out the basis for the development of the higher education sector over the next two decades which, as part of its report, recognised that much greater diversity of funding and institutional activity is required into the future by the sector. The Higher Education Authority (HEA), at my request, is undertaking a study on the sustainability of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department provides for a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment for the use of students in primary and second level schools who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and/or communicative disabilities which make ordinary communication through speech and/or writing impossible for them. The purpose of the grant-aid is to provide such students with equipment of direct...

Leaders' Questions (27 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes, but we have heard what Deputy Ross has to say before.

Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2012: Financial Resolution (27 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move: That Part 9 of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act 1999 (No. 31 of 1999) be amended to make provision for a stamp duty on certain insurers in respect of certain insured persons based on recommendations in that regard made by the Minister for Health to the Minister for Finance pursuant to the Act giving effect to this Resolution.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cóiríocht Scoile (27 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Níl an t-eolas atá á lorg ag an Teachta maidir le scoileanna atá i gcóiríocht sealadach le fáil láithreach. Cuirfidh oifigigh mo Roinne an t-eolas le chéile agus cuirfidh siad chuig an Teachta é chomh luath agus is féidir.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (27 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy on 13th November 2012 and the application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Language (27 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The 20 year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010 to 2030 promotes an integrated approach to the Irish Language which is consistent with best international practice. The Government has committed to supporting strategy in the programme for Government 2011 to 2016. The Deputy will be aware that Vocational Education Committees are public bodies which fall within the terms of the Official...