Results 13,461-13,480 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 60 together. The information on the numbers of teachers is shown in the following tables. There are about 1,300 teachers directly involved. Fixed term and part-time teachers in primary schools who satisfy certain eligibility criteria can apply to be placed on a supplementary panel for access to permanent posts. The criteria and other details...

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I share the Deputy's view. The matter was brought to my attention when I was in Opposition and in my first year as Minister. Part of the outcome of Croke Park II will move in the direction of improving that overall situation. The problem is cute at the post-primary sector where there are subject teachers as distinct from teachers of young children. I share the Deputy's view. If we do not...

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes, it is.

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree.

Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Through the Chair, I will have that matter considered and will revert specifically to the Deputy to see if something can be done in this regard. I am aware it is a problem.

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In May 2011 my Department issued Circular 31/2011, which sets out a cascading set of measures for appointment of teachers with effect from September 2011. These measures are stringent and require schools to prioritise unemployed teachers over those in receipt of a pension, where possible. I seem to recall that I read this out and dealt with it before.

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose that we move on.

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I fully agree with both Deputies who have raised this matter. Circular 31/2011 arose after my visit to the teaching conferences in the preceding Easter. It was clear, given the strength of feeling, that this was a major issue in both primary and secondary levels. If the circular is not having the intended effect, I will take on board some of the suggestions Deputy McConalogue has made and...

Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: They were referring to something with a longer and more extended period of weeks or something like that. However, this issue is of concern and I will give consideration to it.

Other Questions: Irish Language (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In November 2012, the integration of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, was announced. This decision means that both bodies will be co-located in one office building, they will be enabled to co-operate closely in their work to support the teaching of Irish and will be able to share back-office...

Other Questions: Irish Language (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy's concern. That concern also has been expressed directly to me by other interested parties. This measure is about sharing back-office services and not about interfering with or reducing the actual front-line work being done in promoting the Irish language and developing the curricula to bring that about. Moreover, by achieving economies in the sharing of back-office...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 42 together. I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department is considering an application for additional classroom accommodation to meet an increase in pupil enrolments in respect of the school to which she refers. This application is being assessed at present and my officials will be in further contact with the school authority shortly. In that...

Other Questions: School Accommodation (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Regrettably, I cannot give the Deputy a concrete response to the questions she has raised, but I will examine the issue again and try to get additional information for her as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions in different households. In the interest of equity, I...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 23 together. There has been no overall reduction in Resource Teaching numbers for the current school year. 9,950 posts have been provided for Resource Teaching and learning support for the 2012/13 school year, the same number as provided for last year. 5,500 of these posts are available for allocation to pupils with more complex special needs. Due...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department recently received a letter from the Board of Management of Tyrrelstown Educate Together National School seeking a meeting to discuss its concerns regarding the establishment of a new secondary school for the area. I have asked officials from my Department to meet with representatives from the Board of Management concerned so that they can be fully informed of the position...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Croke Park Agreement Issues (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 32, 34, 39 and 44 together. The proposals put forward by the Labour Relations Commission on an extension to the Croke Park Agreement arise from an intensive and difficult set of negotiations between the Public Services Committee of ICTU and the Government, that took place against a backdrop of continuing significant difficulties in the finances of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am very conscious of the role of our schools in supporting national skills priorities. The new Junior Cycle Framework offers choice to schools in the provision of a range of learning experiences that is flexible enough to meet the needs of students. Under the Framework, students are expected to acquire proficiency across twenty four statements of learning, three of which refer to the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: While the 2013 allocation for my Department takes account of difficult decisions that had to be made to meet savings targets, my priority has been to protect the most vulnerable in our education system. Of the gross current allocation of €8.51 billion, approximately €1.3 billion will be allocated in support of children with special educational needs in 2013. This includes the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (7 Mar 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCCA which advises me on curriculum and assessment for early childhood education and for primary and post-primary schools is aware of this development, and other similar code literacy initiatives. The Estonian initiative is a pilot project. Similar work is also taking place in a number of Irish primary schools involving "Scratch" and other programming languages. The NCCA is engaging with...