Results 7,301-7,320 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: On 19 June last, my Department published Circular 0024/2012 which detailed the categorisation of the new Education and Training Boards (ETBs), once established, for the purposes of the pay scales applicable to Chief Executive Officers of these Boards. The categorisation of each ETB, including the Board encompassing Counties Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim, is based on a proposal set out by the Labour...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Postgraduate Loan Scheme (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The new loan initiative available from Bank of Ireland provides finance for fees and living costs. While developed in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, it is a Bank of Ireland product and further information on the terms and conditions of the loan, together with the numbers availing of it, is a matter for the bank.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The implementation of the Framework for Junior Cycle will enable post-primary schools to provide a quality, inclusive and relevant education with improved learning outcomes for all students, including those with special educational needs. The framework document indicates that teachers will receive professional development in educational assessment, including processes of moderation, and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 257, 265, 266 together. The costs which will arise relate in the main to professional development for principals, deputy principals and teachers. Investment in professional development for teachers will begin in 2013 and be significantly scaled up in the years thereafter. The key needs will be for professional development in assessment approaches, in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Over time the external examination is to be phased out and externally set, administered and marked examinations will no longer be a feature of the final assessment at Junior Cycle. During the transition period, elements of the external examination will continue to be in place until phased out.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Extensive quality assurance measures are built into the new Junior Cycle. These include subject specifications with clear learning outcomes; a comprehensive profession development programme for teachers, principals and deputy principals in educational assessment, including processes of moderation; and the introduction of standarised tests for all schools and students in English reading,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It is not the intention that the new Junior Cycle will require extra staffing. It is about working differently rather than adding to teachers' workloads. It is not expected that the reform will lead to significant changes in teacher numbers.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 264, inclusive, together. In the new Junior Cycle all students will be expected to achieve 24 statements of learning over the period of their Junior Cycle. These include valuing local and national heritage and understanding the importance of the relationship between past and current event and the forces that drive change, understanding the origins and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Vocational Education Committees (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department received a request in August 2012 from Co. Wicklow VEC for approval to fill the vacant education officer post. My Department informed the Acting Chief Executive Officer that, in accordance with the moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the public service, the vacancy could not be filled.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Teachers are employed under a contract of employment with the board of management of a school or a vocational education committee. It is the Board of Management or VEC, as appropriate, which is responsible for recruitment, selection, appointment, discipline and dismissal of staff in accordance with procedures published by the Department following consultation with the education partners. In...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy is a newly established school which originally projected that it would have an enrolment of 25 pupils on 30 September, 2012. Based on this projected enrolment the school was allocated a principal and 1 mainstream teaching post for the current school year. The required level of enrolment, minimum of 20 pupils, failed to materialise at 30 September 2012. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Service (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 to 272, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school, referred to by the Deputy, requested that consideration be given to the replacement of the school's temporary accommodation with a permanent structure. My Department has recently carried out a technical assessment and my officials will be in contact with the school authorities shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the ability of the Department to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. The redeployment of these teachers was completed during the summer. However, some additional surplus also arises in the Autumn as a result of the suppression of teaching posts given to schools on the basis of projected September 2012...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Grants (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 to 277, inclusive, together. The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). The eligibility of an applicant, or the level of the grant awarded, may be re-assessed by the awarding authority in the event of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Grant Appeals (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications from the 2012/13 academic year is a matter for the new centralised grant awarding authority, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI that the student in question applied for grant assistance and I understand that a decision has issued. If an individual applicant considers...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies (23 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: No new agencies have been established under the aegis of my Department since March, 2011. For the Deputy's information: The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology and Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences were merged into one entity - the Irish Research Council (IRC). The Deputy may also wish to note the following: The Deputy will also be...

Order of Business (18 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I share the Deputy's concerns, as, I suspect, do most Members, but both Bills to which she referred will be taken late next year.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, particularly on this day, because it is very appropriate. The heads of the Bill have not yet come to Cabinet and, therefore, on that basis I suggest it will be in the middle of next year at the earliest.

Order of Business (18 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: That is the case. The heads of the Bill are being drafted. I will find out precisely where that process is and communicate with the Deputy. The intention is to have them before the committee before the end of the year.