Results 15,781-15,800 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Guidance Counsellors (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 216 together. I have already acknowledged to the House that bringing guidance within quota is challenging for schools. However the alternative was to adjust the PTR staffing allocations. Guidance is a whole school activity and schools have autonomy on how best to prioritise their available resources to meet the requirements in relation to guidance...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: With the exception of Irish and Mathematics, the overall results were in line with previous years. The results in Irish and Mathematics differed from previous years due to a significant increase in the number of candidates taking the Higher Level papers and due for example, to a greater weighting (40%, up from 25% for the examinations in 2012 and 2013), being allocated to the oral component...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund Issues (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Third Level Access Measure comprises two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The overall value of the measure for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m. The management of the Third Level Access Measure Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the sub-priorities in a particular year is a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 124 together. Section 23 of the Residential Institutions Redress Act 2002 provided for the establishment of a Special Account which is used to pay awards made by the Redress Board and associated legal and settlement costs. In addition to the moneys provided by the Oireachtas, funding for this Special Account comes from moneys contributed under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 259 and 261 together. I am aware of the concerns of smaller schools and rural schools. Our overall primary school enrolment has been growing rapidly in recent years and this is going to continue. In managing the resource consequences of this, it is important that decisions on school provision and organisation are based on a rigorous evaluation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Prior to the recent ballots on the Haddington Road Agreement, my Department agreed with TUI and ASTI that without prejudice to future positions that would arise in the event of rejection of the proposals, current Supervision and Substitution arrangements would remain in place. This was essential to ensure that schools opened for the new school year and remained functioning. TUI has now...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 119 together. I have already expressed my concern in relation to costs incurred by parents on school uniforms. This is a matter on which I believe schools must take account of the wishes of parents. During the course of this school year I will be publishing my plans for a Parent Charter that will strengthen the position of parents generally within...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 121 together. The new Junior Cycle gives flexibility and autonomy to schools by allowing them the opportunity to design their own curriculum in order to meet the needs of their students. There is a dedicated Continuous Professional Development service in place called Junior Cycle for Teachers and a comprehensive plan of CPD for this and future...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Statistics (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: 3,228 students sat the Leaving Certificate Applied in 2012. Information is not currently available on whether these students went on to PLC courses, third level institutes or on to the Live Register.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Haddington Road Agreement Issues (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government has made its position clear - given the overall context of the State's ongoing financial difficulties, there can be no re-negotiation of the Haddington Road Agreement. Teaching is a valued and important profession and I am glad that the Agreement has been accepted by three of the four trade unions representing teachers and lecturers in Ireland. I would again ask ASTI to examine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware I launched "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 start such book rental programmes. The publication of these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has established a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with Special Educational Needs, based on the educational profile of a school. Mr Eamon Stack, the NCSE Chairperson and former Chief Inspector in my Department, has been appointed to chair this working...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Contribution Fee (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the Student Contribution stands at €2,500 for the current academic year and is payable by students who qualify under my Department's 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The majority of schools include among their pupils, children with disadvantaged backgrounds, and in general most schools address the individual needs of these children without recourse to additional targeted resources. DEIS "Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools" an action plan for educational inclusion focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Traveller Education (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Current policy in relation to Traveller education is underpinned by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy which was launched in 2006, following wide ranging consultation with relevant stakeholders including Traveller representative groups. The principle of inclusion is at the core of the Strategy and, accordingly, the focus of both current and future provision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 211 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my Department's intention to provide improved acccommodation for the school to which he refers. It is intended that the school will be accommodated in a school building currently occupied temporarily by a special school pending the construction of a permanent school building for the latter. This...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Currently maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses. To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disadvantaged Status (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following an independent identification process in 2005, 875 schools were selected for inclusion in DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools). The school to which the Deputy refers was not deemed to have a sufficient level of disadvantage to qualify for inclusion in DEIS and therefore was never classified as a DEIS school. A review mechanism was put in place in 2006 to address...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (8 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. As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. This is a very stark reality, which,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed, subject to available resources, to providing the highest standard of permanent accommodation for all schools. The Deputy will be aware that the 5 year School Investment Plan announced in March 2012, provides for a €2 billion school capital investment programme, of which over €1.5 billion is being allocated to the...