Results 4,621-4,640 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that, following agreement in principle by the Government to broaden the current means testing arrangements for student grants by way of inclusion of the value of capital assets, I set up a dedicated implementation group to bring forward detailed proposals. I have received a draft report from the implementation group. This is currently under consideration and I will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I know that the Deputy is aware that I recently wrote to the Catholic Patrons in 23 areas where parental demand for change has been confirmed through parental survey outcomes. The Deputy will also be aware that the purpose of my letter was to ask the Patrons to consider options for reconfiguring their schools to allow the transfer of a school to a new patron. I requested an interim response...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In phasing in implementation of junior cycle reform, from 2014 onwards, English, Mathematics and Irish will remain core full subjects for all students. 18 additional subjects, including science, will continue to be available. Overall, I am in favour of schools deciding what junior cycle programme they will offer, mindful of the need to reflect the interests of their students. Curricular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Design (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that a triage system exists in Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) to provisionally assess all online applications and to refuse those applications that clearly do not meet the qualifying criteria and do not need to go through the complete application process. While it is acknowledged that there were significant difficulties in the operation of the assessment processes last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Creidim go gcuirfidh mo chinneadh COGG a chomhlonnú leis an CNCM le forfheidhmiú moltaí na Straitéise 20 Bliain do Ghaeilge 2010-2030. Ar iarratas uaim agus de réir na Straitéise 20 Bliain and na Straitéise Náisiúnta Litearthachta agus Uimhearthachta, tá an CNCM taréis tosnú ar leasuithe móra a dhéanamh ar na curaclaim...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCSE Report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in schools makes clear that there are many aspects of the current system which parents and schools are very happy with. However, the report notes concerns in relation to some aspects of our current system, including in relation to the length of time some parents may have to wait for an assessment in order to determine...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Funding for the administration of student grants by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is provided on a financial year basis. The funding provided by this Department to SUSI in the financial year 2012 which includes set-up and operational costs was some 6.7m. Funding requirements for the 2013 financial year are currently under review in light of the recommendations of the Review. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, since 2008 the rates of student grant are considered as part of the annual Budget process in common with other welfare and income-support measures. 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.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In bringing forward legislative proposals, I do not want to unnecessarily intrude into how schools do their business. Our aim is to ensure that schools decide on applications for enrolment in a structured, fair and transparent manner. The legislative proposals will be published in draft form to facilitate a full public discussion. I will be reflecting carefully on the views expressed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Suicide Prevention (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of the recently published report to which the Deputy refers. I am also aware of the serious problem of youth suicide and of the role that schools can play in the area of prevention and ensuring the education system is more responsive to those with emotional or mental health difficulties. I can inform the Deputy that last January I launched the Well-Being in Post-Primary Schools:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Education (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Síolta and Aistear represent a comprehensive set of national practice guidelines which support the development of quality early childhood care and education in Ireland. Both Frameworks are based upon extensive research evidence on best practice in early childhood education and care and also have been developed through extensive consultation with all interested parties including parents,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The design team is currently working on the completion of the Stage 2(a) submission. When Stage 2(a) is approved, the project will then progress to stage 2(b) which includes applications for planning permission, Fire Safety Certification, Disability Access Certification and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the new arrangements that I put in place for the establishment of new post-primary schools, prospective patrons must agree to establish an Aonad within an English-medium school subject to parental demand. I have made this known publicly and the matter was addressed at a recent information meeting that my Department held with prospective patrons. The measurement and assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: There was extensive consultation over many months with stakeholders in relation to the NCCA document "Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle." The plans for a revised Junior Cycle, as announced by me last October, reflect the content of the "Towards a Framework" document. However, my proposals do go further in relation to assessment – and the move away from a terminal exam to school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: When the Minor Works Grant last issued in November 2011 for the school year 2011/2012, I stated that given the need to focus on meeting the demand for additional school places, it was unlikely that funding would be available for the Minor Works Grant in the coming years. This is borne out by the fact that in 2012, 85% of the capital expenditure in the school sector was in respect of large...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Modern Language Teaching (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The initiative referred to by the Deputy came to an end last June. I have no plans to review the decision to end the modern languages in primary schools initiative. The Department's language policy, as detailed in the Government's National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (2011), is that pupils will learn two languages, English and Irish in primary schools. As part of the National Literacy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 96 and 266 together. The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down syndrome, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: There are currently 284 substitute and casual teachers in receipt of the daily unqualified rate of €115. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that these teachers will be paid on the correct rates of pay with effect from the 20th June 2013. Any arrears owed to them will be issued on the same date.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The position is that higher education institutions, including universities such as UCC, are autonomous bodies and I have no role in their day to day operational affairs including issues such as costs incurred by students for training placements. Such matters are the responsibility of the management authority and governing body of the University.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (28 May 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I have made my decision to co-locate COGG and the NCCA. I informed and fully discussed this decision with Cabinet last November. I believe co-location will better facilitate the implementation of the recommendations not only of the 20 Year Strategy for Irish, 2010 - 2030, but also The Gaeltacht Act 2012 and the curricular reform currently under way for primary and post-primary education....