Results 5,501-5,520 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Other Questions: School Accommodation (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: Regrettably, I cannot give the Deputy a concrete response to the questions she has raised, but I will examine the issue again and try to get additional information for her as soon as possible.
- Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: Yes, it is.
- Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I agree.
- Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: Through the Chair, I will have that matter considered and will revert specifically to the Deputy to see if something can be done in this regard. I am aware it is a problem.
- Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: In May 2011 my Department issued Circular 31/2011, which sets out a cascading set of measures for appointment of teachers with effect from September 2011. These measures are stringent and require schools to prioritise unemployed teachers over those in receipt of a pension, where possible. I seem to recall that I read this out and dealt with it before.
- Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose that we move on.
- Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I fully agree with both Deputies who have raised this matter. Circular 31/2011 arose after my visit to the teaching conferences in the preceding Easter. It was clear, given the strength of feeling, that this was a major issue in both primary and secondary levels. If the circular is not having the intended effect, I will take on board some of the suggestions Deputy McConalogue has made and...
- Other Questions: School Staffing (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: They were referring to something with a longer and more extended period of weeks or something like that. However, this issue is of concern and I will give consideration to it.
- Other Questions: Irish Language (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: In November 2012, the integration of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, COGG, with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, was announced. This decision means that both bodies will be co-located in one office building, they will be enabled to co-operate closely in their work to support the teaching of Irish and will be able to share back-office...
- Other Questions: Irish Language (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy's concern. That concern also has been expressed directly to me by other interested parties. This measure is about sharing back-office services and not about interfering with or reducing the actual front-line work being done in promoting the Irish language and developing the curricula to bring that about. Moreover, by achieving economies in the sharing of back-office...
- Other Questions: School Accommodation (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 42 together. I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department is considering an application for additional classroom accommodation to meet an increase in pupil enrolments in respect of the school to which she refers. This application is being assessed at present and my officials will be in further contact with the school authority shortly. In that...
- Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is probably aware, on 29 January last, Minister Fitzgerald and I published the action plan on bullying which sets out twelve actions to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. I have ring-fenced €500,000 to support implementation of these actions this year.
- Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: While I appreciate we are all on the side on this issue, I ask Members to have regard to what progress has been made. The last set of guidelines on bullying in the Department which we built upon and considerably modernised were drawn up in 1993. There was no reference to homophobic bullying whatsoever in those guidelines as it was not part and parcel of the landscape in terms of recognising...
- Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy.
- Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: The Parliamentary Labour Party agreed yesterday in a Private Members' legislative initiative, similar to what the Deputy has brought forward and similar to what Senator Averil Power has brought forward, that it will, I understand, be taken in the Private Members' slot in the Seanad on 12 March. I hope it will progress from there. The legislation needs to be changed fairly soon. It is a...
- Other Questions: Bullying in Schools (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I expect so.
- Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 60 together. The information on the numbers of teachers is shown in the following tables. There are about 1,300 teachers directly involved. Fixed term and part-time teachers in primary schools who satisfy certain eligibility criteria can apply to be placed on a supplementary panel for access to permanent posts. The criteria and other details...
- Other Questions: Teaching Contracts (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I share the Deputy's view. The matter was brought to my attention when I was in Opposition and in my first year as Minister. Part of the outcome of Croke Park II will move in the direction of improving that overall situation. The problem is cute at the post-primary sector where there are subject teachers as distinct from teachers of young children. I share the Deputy's view. If we do not...
- Other Questions: School Guidelines on Mental Health (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: I have allocated €500,000 to enable implementation of the action plan on bullying, the full detail of which is being worked out, to be progressed this year. This additional expenditure will complement other programmes that focus on assisting teachers and school management in dealing with bullying in primary and post-primary schools. The guidelines for mental health promotion bring...
- Other Questions: School Guidelines on Mental Health (7 Mar 2013)
Ruairi Quinn: No decision has yet been made on the breakdown of the detailed allocation of the moneys.