Results 17,881-17,900 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Sixty - six zero.

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: With regard to small islands, I will certainly adopt, and do adopt, a different approach. That is my intention because of the very nature of those schools. The Deputy may be aware of this, and I have additional information in regard to two islands because of the viability of island communities. That is a separate case altogether and I am prepared to talk to people about that matter, but we...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: What I can say to the Deputy and confirm to the House is with regard to isolated communities, particularly island schools, I am reconsidering that rule.

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: That is what the figures suggest and in those cases in the first instance it is for the board of management to decide what it thinks is the best for the future for the school.

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 18 and 25 together. The Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, and I published an Action Plan on Bullying in January of last year which sets out 12 actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in schools. I have made €500,000 available in 2014 and I am satisfied that this is an adequate sum of money to support the implementation of the action plan. The...

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: From my point of view the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, gave a very accurate response in answer to the supplementary questions asked by Deputy Ó Fearghaíl. When considering reductions in the overall pupil-teacher ratio at second level, we had to make a difficult choice regarding the idea that a particular category of teacher would be ring-fenced and ex-quota when in many cases...

Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I fundamentally disagree with the Deputy. The two traditional aspects to guidance counsellors are pastoral care and actual career guidance. The resources for career guidance, the amount of information available and a host of other facilities which exist are totally different from what was available ten, 15, 20 or 30 years ago. With regard to pastoral care and mental health in a school...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Anti-Bullying Procedures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank Deputy Browne for raising this matter. I can confirm my Department provided funding of €40,000 to the Meitheal programme in December 2011. The Meitheal programme has not received any funding from the Department since that date. The programme previously was allocated funding through the fund for the development of targeted educational responses to certain children at risk...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Anti-Bullying Procedures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that I am unable to respond to the Deputy as positively as I would wish. I understand this was a pilot project that, as the Deputy has noted, has been very successful in County Wexford. However, were one to multiply that by the other counties to which, in terms of equity, it must be applied in order to implement it on a national scale, it would cost much more than €40,000....

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Anti-Bullying Procedures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It will be another three years before we are out of it, but for some people whose lives have been ruined, the damage is permanent. The Deputy can shake his head for as long as he wishes. Money simply is not available in the form under discussion and one simply must consider other resources. I am facing an extremely challenging budget in the coming year and have had difficulties in previous...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Anti-Bullying Procedures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes, it is a small amount of money, until one multiplies it by every school in the country, and then it becomes a couple of million euro. There are schools that are running similar programmes, and one must learn how to do things. The culture of dependency on a grant for this and extra cash for that was characteristic of Fianna Fáil from 1997 until the collapse. The party would throw...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education Reform (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The broad tenets of higher education policy in Ireland were set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education published January 2011. I am implementing a wide ranging reform programme in higher education based in part on the NSHE which will enhance the quality of research, teaching and engagement in the system, modernise governance and accountability of institutions and a restructuring...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Grievance and Appeals Procedures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 provides for grievance and appeal procedures in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the school concerned. Section 29 of the Act sets out a limited set of circumstances a parent can appeal administrative decisions of a school. These are confined to expulsions, suspensions or refusal to enroll. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Work is ongoing between my Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on future funding policy for higher education. This builds upon the substantial amount of work already undertaken by the HEA. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There are a number of internet-based teaching devices in use in classrooms, including Interactive Whiteboards, laptops, desktop computers and tablet computers. All schools in the country have been offered a broadband internet connection to enable them access the internet with a dedicated Broadband support desk to support them. There have been continual improvements in the speeds being made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I have received many representations on this general matter. The Deputy will be aware that a new post primary school is opening in Maynooth in September 2014. This new school will have an all-Irish Aonad for which circa 40 pupils are currently enrolled for 1st year. In addition to an existing Gaelchóláiste serving the general area, this development will help to service all-Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy is seeking to remain as a 4-teacher school on the basis of its enrolments of 84 pupils at 30 September 2013 and 3 additional pupil enrolments in March 2014. The school submitted an appeal to the Staffing Appeals Board on this basis. While there is provision for recognising enrolments in October 2013 there is no provision in the appeals process for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that there is a wide ranging programme of reform underway across the education and training sector and one of the key aims is to ensure the continued development of skills appropriate to enterprise, particularly through the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, reform of the Junior Cycle, the establishment of the local Education and Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Generally, the Board of Management is responsible for contracts which exist between a school and a supplying contractor. The remedy for any breach in a contract is governed by Contract Law. Where schools receive devolved funding from my Department for the provision of additional accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring this accommodation in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's policy promotes a child centred approach to the education of children with special needs including autism. Children with autism can enrol in an early intervention class from the age of three and if a placement is not available home tuition is provided. Home tuition is also provided for children with autism from the age of two and a half. The NCSE is currently preparing...