Results 3,501-3,520 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The issue of teacher supply is kept under review by my Department. I acknowledge that the various budget measures that have taken place in recent years can limit the employment opportunities for newly qualified teachers. However, there are limits to the number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund as a country. A number of measures have been taken to alleviate difficulties for new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Accreditation (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: It is a matter for individual employers, education institutions and professional recognition bodies to decide on whether they wish to recognise any academic qualifications from abroad. However, Ireland does have systems in place for assisting individuals in having their qualifications recognised. The Qualifications Recognition Service at Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) represents...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 disability/high incidence disability category, or through an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will appreciate that it is still very early stages in the application process for the academic year 2013-14 and as such these figures are not yet available. These statistics will be collated from the existing 66 awarding authorities and also from SUSI and will be available in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has received a proposal from BeatBullying (The BB Group) and this is currently being considered.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI and a grant refusal letter issued on 28th August 2013. Where an appeal is turned down in writing by SUSI and the applicant remains of the view that the scheme has not been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy made an application for the 2013/14 academic year on 18th June 2013. A second document checklist issued to the applicant on 17th July 2013. The requested documentation was recently returned and will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (19 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, her student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI and a grant refusal letter issued on 10th September 2013. Where an appeal is turned down in writing by SUSI and the applicant remains of the view that the scheme has not been...

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: None of us in this room will make that decision, it will be decided by the people. We will live with whatever change they give or do not give us. The way in which we assess and trust teachers and schools is important. There is a wide variation in how schools respond. Schools are circumscribed by their own circumstances in some cases in that if they have a limited number of pupils,...

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: On a point of order, I do not think that is correct. With no disrespect to the IPA, the Minister certainly appoints the chair but subject to correction, the other members of the council are nominated by various education stakeholders.

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The chair is directly appointed by the Minister of the day but the rest are nominated by the others.

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank everybody for allowing this debate to take place and, in particular, Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell and the Independent group of Taoiseach's nominees. Before I address the topic in detail, there are a couple of aspects of recent commentary on this matter I would like to clarify. First, it has been suggested that history is currently a compulsory subject in all schools at junior...

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Dorothy Macardle comes to mind.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Accreditation and Co-ordination of English Language Services (ACELS) was established in 1969 under the auspices of the Department of Education to control standards in English-language schools and organisations through an inspection/recognition scheme. Responsibility for the ACELS function was given to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), formerly the National Qualifications...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in regular communication with the school to which he refers regarding the school's accommodation needs. I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that my Department has approved additional temporary accommodation for September 2013 to accommodate the school's increasing enrolments. In respect of the school's longer term needs, I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 8th July, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the student referred to by the Deputy has lodged an appeal with the independent Student Grant Appeals Board. The case is currently listed for hearing on 1st October 2013 and the student will be informed of the decision of the Appeals Board shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy had her application reviewed and a revised award issued on the 14th February 2013. I also understand from SUSI that the fees have been paid.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI and the original decision was overturned. The student's application was reassessed and on the 31st July 2013, an award letter issued to the student.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to residency, nationality, academic attainment and means it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student...