Results 18,161-18,180 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Project Maths was the title given to a major programme of reform of mathematics in second level schools for both junior cycle and senior cycle. Project Maths began in 24 schools in September 2008 and was rolled out, on a phased basis, to all mainstream second level schools from September 2010. As of September 2012. "Project Maths" as it has become known, was fully rolled out to all mainstream...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Three primary schools are expected to open this September under the patronage divesting process, with Educate Together as patron. While permanent buildings are not yet available for these schools, I have given the go-ahead for them in temporary start-up accommodation in order to meet parental demand for greater choice of primary schools as soon as possible. The transfer of a Church of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Second Level Patronage Advisory Group was announced but not subsequently appointed by my predecessor. It did not, consequently, carry out any work. In June of 2011, I announced that some 20 new post-primary schools would be established over the coming years to meet demographic needs. Following on from that announcement, prospective patron bodies were invited to apply for patronage of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There are currently seven Community National Schools in operation in the country. A further new Community National School is expected to commence operation in September 2014. The Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently analysing demographics on a nationwide basis to identify areas where additional primary school accommodation might be needed beyond 2014. Should the need for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not hold information on the numbers of pupils attending school in prefabricated buildings; this depends on the organisation of class groups by schools within available accommodation and may vary from year to year. Local school managements are responsible for organising their class numbers, year on year, to achieve the optimum local efficiencies.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of all school capital works that have been funded by my Department may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie by clicking on "Schools and Colleges", then "Building Works" and selecting the relevant headings. This is updated on a regular basis. The 5 year School Construction Plan announced on 9 March 2012 (which is also detailed on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In May of last year, following consideration of a report from the HEA, I asked the Higher Education Authority to implement a future system configuration. My letter to the HEA and their report is published on . It sets out all the proposed mergers and alignments. In summary, three groups of institutes of technology have expressed an interest to merge and apply to become technological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Contribution (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the Student Contribution stands at €2,500 for the current academic year and is payable by undergraduate 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....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project referred to is at an early stage of Architectural Planning. The Design Team are currently working on their stage 1 report for submission to my Department. Upon satisfactory completion of stage 1 and subject to no issues arising the project will be authorised to progress to Stage 2A, which is the developed sketch design stage. Due to competing demands on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Students (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education Authority's data, which are available at www.HEA.ie, indicate an almost 14% rise in full-time international student numbers between 2010/11 and 2012/13 in the institutions for which the HEA collects data. The figures for the English Language sector are estimates from Fáilte Ireland. The most recent relate to 2012, and they suggest a 28% increase between 2011 and 2012.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Statistics (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Information received from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs states that in 2011, 19% of the labour force had qualifications at NFQ Levels 1-3, which is below leaving certificate level. I understand that in 2013, the latest available figures indicate that the number of those in the labour force with qualifications at NFQ Levels 1-3 stood at 15%.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The expenditure on training for the unemployed funded by my Department for each of the past five years is set out in the table. It includes programmes delivered by FÁS/SOLAS, Department of Social Protection, Skillnets, the Labour Market Training Fund, Momentum, Springboard and the ICT Skills Conversion Programme. Year € 2009 €266 million 2010 €298 million 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Activation Measures (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Labour Market Activation Fund (LMAF) was launched in March 2010 in order to support the creation of training and education programmes for specific priority groups among the unemployed. These groups were the low skilled and those formerly employed in declining sectors - construction, retail and manufacturing sectors - with particular emphasis on the under 35s and the long-term unemployed....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Funding (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 Skillnets was allocated a budget of €14.5 m. 42,113 individuals participated on their programmes in 2011. 43,974 individuals were trained in 2012. In 2013, 45,712 individuals participated on programmes. These figures include training for both the employed and unemployed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of apprentices registered during each year since 2010 are as follows: Year: Registrations: 2010 1,204 2011 1,307 2012 1,434 2013 1,479 2014 (YTD 28/4/14) 804 If a SOLAS registered apprentice's employment has been terminated due to insufficient work being available he/she should: inform their SOLAS Training Adviser immediately of his/her redundant status; register...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Staff (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Intercultural Education Strategy, published in 2010, has moved Irish education in the direction of embracing and teaching proactively about Traveller culture, and other cultures, in Ireland. The Intercultural Education Strategy was influenced by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006. Inclusion was a core principle of that report as was the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the measures outlined in the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, the Inspectorate supports the improvement of literacy and numeracy in schools as part of its evaluation and advisory role within the educational system. School inspections include evaluation of the quality of learning in literacy and numeracy. Evaluation reports identify good educational practice in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are...