Results 7,561-7,580 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I, like other members of this House, believe that there is a strong moral obligation for Congregations to share 50% of the costs of the response to residential institutional child abuse. To facilitate a contribution by the Congregations concerned, I have proposed the transfer of school infrastructure to the State at no cost to the Exchequer. I am continuing to engage with the Congregations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The legislation which provides for the establishment and operation of the universities and the institutes of technology (e.g. the Universities Act, 1997 and the Institutes of Technology Act, 2006) provides that they may establish or participate in the establishment of corporations. Over the years a number of corporations have been established particularly in the university sector....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Evaluations (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 76 and 111 together. The introduction of school self-evaluation is a key objective in the Programme for Government. In the 2011-12 school year, the Inspectorate of my Department prepared draft School Self-evaluation Guidelines. These draft Guidelines were trialled in a pilot scheme in a small number of primary and post-primary schools in the school year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 98 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that it is not possible to anticipate future budgetary decisions. This Government remains committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs. The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Reform (9 Oct 2012)

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 for implementation in 2013. I have received a draft report from the implementation group. This is currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media in Education (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 81 and 90 together. My Department is strongly supportive of the integration of ICT tools and techniques into teaching practice. My Department's ICT in schools programme sets out a clear agenda to be pursued in this regard and schools are very much encouraged to plan for the integration of ICT into teaching practice. It is, however, important for all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. Shortly after coming into office I met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and impressed on them the need to limit the cost of textbooks. I have also stressed to them...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has identified a number of areas including North County Dublin where, due to demographic changes, it is projected that there will be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. In this context, I announced in June 2011 that 20 new primary and 20 new post primary schools are to be established...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It must be acknowledged that the higher education sector has accommodated significant increases in students numbers over the last number of years, at a time when both funding and staff numbers have reduced. The recurrent provision made available for 2012 to the University and Institutes of Technology sectors is €1.119 billion compared to €1.177 billion in 2011. The provision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act have already been commenced. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) made recommendations which suggested that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235m per annum, across the education and health sectors, would be required to fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Legal Fees (9 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 seeking a response and I will forward the available data to you as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions Issues (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 101, 119, 214, 227 and 228 together. " Towards a Higher Education Landscape" published in February 2012 initiated a process of engagement by the HEA with higher education institutions with a view to providing me with advice on the future configuration and development of the higher education system. As part of this process all publicly funded institutions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 118 together. The Deputies will be aware that in the context of Budget 2012, I announced a three year phased adjustment to increase the relevant pupil thresholds for small schools with four teachers or less. I have recently made clear to the House in the context of pre-budget discussions at committee level that there is no change proposed to the pupil...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has provided for a comprehensive system of continuing professional development (CPD) for teachers in the area of special educational needs including teachers of children with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD). Central to this is the "Special Education Support Service" (SESS) which was established in September 2003. The service consolidates, co-ordinates, develops and delivers a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 107 together. Educational quality for pupils must be one of the main criteria in any consideration of primary school size and organisation. Ireland has a high proportion of primary schools relative to its population and a high proportion of these are small schools. A Value for Money review of small primary schools is at an advanced stage of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. The BTEA is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to enable participation in second and third level education by allowing eligible people on certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Sick Leave (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Labour Court recommended that revised sick leave arrangements in Recommendation LCR20335 would be of general application to all categories of public servants. It is my intention to issue a circular in relation to the recommendation as it relates to self-certified sick leave as soon as practicable.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 105 together. It is in the public interest that there be an adequate supply of qualified teachers and that supply matches the particular specialisms required. However, even with the best possible systems in place, securing equilibrium between demand and supply is not an exact science, and is subject to quite a number of variables. Recent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Report on the Education of Students with Challenging Behaviour arising from Severe Emotional Disturbance or Behavioural Disorder did not find that a reduction in guidance counselling posts in second level schools or the loss of middle management positions has damaged the promotion of positive behaviour in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (9 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 109 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the outcome of the allowances review has involved a restructuring of the pay scale for new entrant teachers. Henceforth, qualification allowances will not be payable to such teachers and they will commence on a new scale at a point equivalent to the fourth point of the existing scale.