Results 3,961-3,980 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, that there are 133 cases in which a decision on an application has not yet been made. A number of difficult and complex cases arise every year in the course of administering the scheme. I am assured by SUSI that communication with applicants in these cases is being afforded priority to ensure they are brought to conclusion...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In respect of the case the Deputy has just cited about a postgraduate student not being able to access the results, that postgraduate student would never have been a client of SUSI. Consequently, SUSI has nothing to do with the difficulties in which that person finds him or herself because SUSI only addressed first-year students who applied for the first time. SUSI only came into operation...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Sorry, the Deputy is correct. I withdraw my comment.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I had temporarily forgotten.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Student Grant Scheme Administration (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: First, I did not make a mess of SUSI and a mess has not been made of SUSI. SUSI was obliged to start from a base in which certain things had to be learned and the body that undertook this project, the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee, encountered start-up difficulties, which I have recognised. As for the questions the Deputy has just raised, I have been assured by the Higher...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The recently published National Council for Special Education, NCSE, policy advice on supporting children with special educational needs acknowledges the current economic climate makes it unlikely the Government will be able to implement EPSEN in the near future. However, the NCSE report makes recommendations on how changes might be introduced, including in respect of individualised planning...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: It is.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am very supportive of the recommendations of the joint committee. As Deputy O'Brien is aware, they were all-party recommendations. I will be studying the report carefully and I will consider whether it is appropriate for me to make a formal recommendation. I have stated repeatedly during the past two years that in the first instance it is a role for parents, who are represented on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: All I can say is that since the foundation of the State, and even going back before then, a partnership has existed between the State and school providers and educators. The Department at national level does not micro-manage individual schools. We have endorsed the role of the National Parents Council at primary and post-primary levels. With all due respect I am not passing the buck but...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the new framework for junior cycle, schools will design programmes to reflect not only the key skills and statements of learning of the framework but also to reflect teacher qualifications and the identified needs of students. All junior cycle students will be required to study English, Irish and mathematics. Thereafter, schools will have the flexibility and autonomy to offer short...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As it happened I saw some of the debate that took place with the committee in the House. I am sympathetic to the study of history right through to sixth year, as are 90% of students who study the subject. I cannot quite understand why history teachers are so fearful that their subject is suddenly going to be abandoned. As Deputy O'Sullivan will be aware from her professional background, in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The whole thrust of the junior cycle reforms serves to bring a holistic approach to teaching at second level, which we do not have at present. If one meets primary school teachers, they will tell one they are teachers and that they teach children. However, I have heard too many secondary school teachers state they are history, chemistry or science teachers. It is precisely because of this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Contrary to the Deputy's public expressions in recent days, I can confirm that there has been no reduction to the overall number of SNA posts for the coming school year. This provision remains at 10,575 posts - the exact same amount as last year. Let me be very clear - children who qualify for access to SNA support for the coming school year will receive access to this support on precisely...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy is wrong.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I think there is more time than that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Is that for Priority Questions as distinct from ordinary Oral Questions?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I would be happy to write to the Deputy setting out what is contained in the reply because if I am to obey the Chair, I do not have the time to give him the full reply. I am happy to indicate there has not been the reduction in supply he suggests because the demand has not increased as he has alleged. It was not brought to my attention by any of the education partners that there was a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: If the Deputy will not take my word for it, I can only draw his attention to the statement released by the National Parents Council last week which stated: "Parents should have no fears regarding the allocation of SNA support. If a child has been assessed as requiring SNA support then an allocation has been provided for the coming year".

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I had other commitments. Unfortunately the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, was not available because he was sick and the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, was out of the country.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Back to School Costs (3 Jul 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department will carefully consider the joint committee's report on tackling back-to-school costs which was published last week. Tackling the costs associated with school is a major priority of mine. I have recently issued guidance on schoolbook rental schemes. I have also raised the matter of school uniforms informally with the National Parents Council at primary level recommending...