Results 7,501-7,520 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health and Safety Regulations (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The body which has statutory responsibility for ensuring that health and safety requirements are met by all employers, including schools, is the Health and Safety Authority (HSA). The Authority also provides information and advice to organisations, including schools, to assist them in ensuring that their responsibilities in respect of health and safety in the workplace are met.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 79 together. The part -time teachers referred to by the Deputy were employed and paid by the managerial authorities of primary schools until December 2010. Prior to placement of the teachers on the payroll operated by my Department the managerial authorities were requested to submit details of the teachers employment records in the schools. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 to 95, inclusive, together. Details of absences and substitution are not available in the format requested by the Deputy. Figures for absences are not held on a monthly basis or on a county basis. Absences are entered by individual school authorities for each payroll period and submitted online to my Department databases. The absences include absences on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Recognition (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Provisional recognition was initially awarded in 2008 to the school referred to by the Deputy and has been extended each year since. The school is seeking to have permanent recognition granted and a process is in place under which the issue of recognition is being assessed. This process is based on undertakings committed to by the school's Patron in 2007. My Department has arranged to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Third Level Access Measure provides support for disadvantaged students through two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The objective of the Student Assistance Fund, is to assist students, in a sensitive and compassionate manner, who might otherwise, due to their financial circumstances, be unable to continue their third level...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In the document, Towards a Future Higher Education Landscape, published by the HEA in February last, a clear four stage process and criteria was laid out for institutes of technology who wish to apply for designation as a technological university. The first stage of the process is currently in train and Institutes of Technology wishing to merge to apply for designation as a technological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A revised Leaving Certificate Art Syllabus was forwarded to the Department from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. However, implementation of a revised Leaving Certificate Art Syllabus would require significant investment in professional development for teachers and also equipment. Resources for this are not available at the current time in the context of my overall...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I published A Framework for Junior Cycle on 4 October 2012. This document contains details of my plans to reform the junior cycle in post-primary schools. A Framework for Junior Cycle builds upon proposals developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and published in November 2011 under the title, Towards a Framework for Junior Cycle - Innovation and Identity. My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff Remuneration (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. Officials of my Department have asked the Higher Education Authority to contact each University and Institute of Technology seeking a response and I will forward the available data to you as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Legal Costs (10 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Information relevant to the Deputy's question is currently being compiled. A further reply will issue to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Topical Issue Debate: Property Services Regulation (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There is a shared responsibility for the vagueness of the reply.

Topical Issue Debate: Property Services Regulation (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The response was not specific to the case described by Deputy Lyons. I will draw the attention of the Department of Justice and Equality to the facts outlined by the Deputy and ask it to provide a comprehensive response outlining the rights and safeguards available to his constituent in everyday English, as distinct from a litany of legalese and a set of a steps that could only be followed...

Topical Issue Debate: Property Services Regulation (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality. Property management agents are regulated by the Property Services Regulatory Authority, PSRA. The Minister for Justice and Equality established the authority on a statutory basis on 3 April 2012. The main function of the authority is to control and regulate property services providers, that is, auctioneers, estate...

Topical Issue Debate: Property Services Regulation (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can understand the Deputy's frustration. I am here on behalf of the Department of Justice and Equality and what I have in front of me is entitled Notice of Matter for the Adjournment. We abolished matters on the Adjournment at the start of this Dáil session and they are now called Topical Issues. The reply states clearly that the topic is the enforcement of company law in relation...

Topical Issue Debate: Fee Paying Schools (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank Deputies Charles Flanagan and Eoghan Murphy for raising this sensitive issue. I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position on it. fee-charging schools do not receive capitation grants from the Department. Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolments. The most favourable staffing arrangements at...

Topical Issue Debate: Fee Paying Schools (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Much of the information is being given to us from the schools on condition that a certain degree of confidentiality is maintained. I have to consider that request if we are to have a meaningful discussion on the issue prior to the budget. The programme for Government contains a commitment to a provision for diversity in the education system. There is diversity in many directions dating...

Other Questions: Teachers' Remuneration (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy that in the post-primary education sector, in particular, the nature and quality of employment for teachers who teach a range of subjects, as distinct from primary school teachers who are teaching young children and more holistic in their overall educational approach, are problematic. The nature of the contractual relationship between the employer bodies and secondary...

Other Questions: Teachers' Remuneration (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: If there is a successor agreement, the lead person will, undoubtedly, be my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Brendan Howlin, because any agreement will involve more than just the education sector. I cannot anticipate or predict what shape or form it is likely to take. The only thing about which I am hopeful - I encourage all involved - is that there will be...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: We are still studying the report. The decision to mainstream, where possible, pupils with behavioural or special educational needs into the classroom has a consequence for the rest of the class. Also, teachers were not traditionally trained to deal with such issues and that will form part of continual professional development as well as part and parcel of the new formation for primary...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with Deputy Finian McGrath's last point. It is one of the issues that the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Fitzgerald, and I have discussed, that is, at what point can one start to interact with the school. Many of the children arrive in school with problems that have originated from outside. We must recognise that and look at what the National Education Welfare...