Results 3,221-3,240 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (8 Oct 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: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from the City of Dublin Education and Training Board that in preparation for the 2013/2014 academic year, the grants administration process has undergone significant development to enhance its effectiveness and deal with the difficulties experienced last year. Student Universal Support Ireland has implemented a number of initiatives recommended by an independent review of the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. A student may be assessed as an independent mature student if he or she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved course or of re-entry following a break in...

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

Ruairi Quinn: My aim in bringing forward legislative proposals in relation to school admission is to improve the admissions process and to ensure that the way schools decide on applications is structured, fair and transparent. The proposed new regulatory framework is aimed at substantially improving the experience between the public and schools on student admission. I have published a draft General...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The errors which occurred in Leaving Certificate Mathematics were the subject of a report to me by the SEC in August. The SEC acknowledges that these errors may have caused confusion and distress for some candidates and has apologised publicly. I am assured by the SEC that these errors were addressed through the marking process to ensure that candidates were not disadvantaged. In their report...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The context for any discussion about PTR or 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. The Government will continue to protect front-line services as best as possible. However, it is important to note that all public servants are being asked to do...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Procurement Service Framework Agreements (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Procurement Service puts procurement frameworks and contracts in place for use by public bodies. The national stationery contract, which was put in place in April 2011, does not apply to the school sector. However, a Request for Tender has issued for the new stationery contract which will apply to schools after it is awarded. My colleague Minister Howlin has highlighted the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not directly employ retired or non-serving teachers, principals or deputy principals for the purposes of the provision of in service training for teachers. However, a number of qualified teachers, including retirees, are employed on a part time basis through Blackrock Education Centre to assist national support services to deliver CPD for schools in identified priority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 101, 109, 125, 236, 249 and 268 together. The context for any discussion about PTR or 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 the thousands...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to School Costs (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. 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. Students from welfare...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 202 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that pupils with Down Syndrome attending mainstream schools may receive additional teaching support in primary schools, either under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, if the pupil's educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the mild general learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (8 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 104 and 108 together. I was very pleased to recently publish new anti-bullying procedures for all primary and post primary schools. These new procedures have been developed following consultation with the relevant education partners and replace guidelines that were issued to schools in 1993. The procedures are designed to give direction and guidance...

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...