Results 15,681-15,700 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Libraries (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As I have indicated to the Deputy in my previous replies to his questions on this matter, most recently on 18th September, the management of university libraries is entirely a matter for the universities themselves to administer, a function which they carry out in accordance with their statutory autonomy under the Universities Act 1997. I understand that, in general, universities do...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I announced on 10 May 2011 that €40m was available through the Jobs Initiative to fund 374 primary and post-primary school building projects. I indicated that €30 million of the funding would be spent in 2011. Actual expenditure to date on the Jobs Initiative is as follows: Expenditure in 2011 - €30.779m; Expenditure in 2012 - €8.5m. Outstanding balances due to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under Budget 2011, the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of student grant increased from 24 km to 45 km. The proposal to amend the distance to qualify for the higher non-adjacent rate to 45 km took into account a reasonable radius in which students could be expected to commute on a daily basis. There are no plans at present to revise the distance criteria. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Report of the Action Group on Access to Third Level Education made detailed recommendations concerning the introduction of special rates of maintenance grants for disadvantaged students. The target group of "those most in need" was defined in terms of the dependants of people receiving long-term welfare payments, where the necessary conditions are fulfilled. The qualifying criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The context for any discussion about class sizes is that my Department, like all other Government Departments, is operating within a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. My focus is on ensuring we have school places and teachers for all the additional pupils entering our schools each year. There is no scope to give any consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grants Statistics (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The income thresholds for student grants were reduced by 3% for the 2013/14 academic year. The changes to the income thresholds applies to all students, not just new entrants and existing students will be re-assessed by their grant awarding authority. It was estimated that some 6,400 (8%) of the total estimated grant recipients attending both further and higher education were expected to be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Child Protection Issues (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: It is a recognised and fundamental feature of our education system, and of education systems throughout the world, that a teacher, as part of his or her professional duties, will be in sole charge of a group of pupils. In carrying out their teaching role, all teachers have a duty of care to the pupils they teach. All schools and school personnel are also required to adhere to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The budget for education, including the number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the forthcoming budget. The decisions in relation to such matters will be announced at budget time. The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as best as possible. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Total contributions amounting to €48.787m have been received from the religious congregations towards the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund (RISF) in the past year. When added to the €22m previously received in contributions, a total of €70.787m has been deposited in the special investment account opened by the National Treasury Management Agency in accordance with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: It is important to note that primary schools are required to deliver a broad and balanced P.E. programme that enables students to achieve the learning outcomes associated with this subject area. This involves primary schools providing at least one hour a week for P.E. There is therefore no scope for accommodating new initiatives that will encroach on the time that is currently allocated for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: A revised Leaving Certificate curriculum in Irish began in all schools in September 2010, and the first examination took place in June, 2012. The revised programme provides for an increase in the proportion of marks available for oral assessment to 40% (up from 25%), and is aimed at promoting a significant shift in emphasis towards Irish as a spoken language, where students can communicate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Regulatory Impact Assessment Data (1 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has carried out the following Regulatory Impact Assessments since the 9th March 2011: - The RIA for the Education (Amendment) Bill 2012 was finalised in December 2011 and is available to download from my Department's website - The RIA for the Qualification and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 was published at the same time as the Bill in July 2011. The...

Leaders' Questions (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: That is a bit rich coming from Deputy Martin.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 144 together. A key focus of the Government's education policy is to prioritise investment in favour of those most at risk and to optimise access, participation and outcomes at every level of the system for disadvantaged groups. In 2012, my Department provided approximately €15 million in total to first and second level schools by way of book...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Expenditure (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. Officials in my Department have asked the Higher Education Authority to check if the information is obtainable. Any available information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Services Staff (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No 2) Act 2009 was introduced in order to achieve a significant reduction in the public service pay bill. All persons employed by a recognised school or VEC/ETB are "public servants" within the meaning of the Act, regardless of the source of the money used to fund their salary, the lack of ability of any Minister or Department to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that on the 23rd September last, I launched a public consultation on promoting inclusiveness in primary schools. The public consultation process is part of my Action Plan in response to the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. The main stakeholder groups that were involved in the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 162 together. As the Deputy may be aware I launched new "Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in Schools" on the 28th January last. These Guidelines provide practical advice to primary and post-primary schools on how rental schemes can be established and operated. The aim of the Guidelines is to help as many schools as possible to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Rates (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: There was no change in Budget 2013 to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant or the higher special rate of grant for the 2013 financial year. The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Voluntary Contributions (2 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Student Contribution stands at €2,500 for the current academic year and is payable by students who qualify under the free fees schemes. I have already signalled my intention to increase the Student Contribution by €250 each year hereafter until the 2015/16 academic year when the contribution will stand at €3,000. The Contribution is paid by the Exchequer in respect...