Results 7,761-7,780 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Reviews (2 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A consultation group on Junior Cycle reform has been established and it had its inaugural meeting on Thursday, September 27, 2012. A series of meetings are planned with the group to explore issues of implementation of the revised Junior Cycle.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Postgraduate Enrolments (2 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The following table provides data on Postgraduate research (1st year enrolments and all postgraduate 1st year enrolments) for the years 2010/11 and 2011/12. The data show that the number of 1st year Research enrolments (Masters and Phd) increased from 1,862 in 2010/11 to 2,156 in 2011/12 which represents an overall increase of 16%. The number of 1st year postgraduates (research and taught)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (2 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 documentation was requested from the student on 30 July, 2012 and 24 August 2012. The requested documentation was received on 21st...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Completion Programme (2 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that my Department recently terminated the contractor's obligation to complete the works for the school in Ardclough. The original VAT inclusive cost of this project was circa €2.7m. Work on procuring a completion contractor to complete the works is currently under way. The value of the works to be completed by a completion contractor will not be known until...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2012)

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 are currently working on the completion of Stage 2(a) (Developed Sketch Design). Officials of the Planning & Building Unit of my Department held a meeting in September with a delegation from the School Authority in which the current position was fully...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Fee Refund Scheme (2 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teacher Fee Refund Scheme 2011 has yet to be finalised as there are a small number of applicants to the scheme whose eligibility may be affected by the review of allowances being undertaken by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The proportion of fees refunded depends on the number of qualifying applicants in any given year. The funding available is allocated on a pro-rata...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff Issues (2 Oct 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There are no retired senior civil servants currently appointed to positions within my Department. On occasion, my Department re-engages retired civil servants on a short-term basis to carry out certain tasks that require their particular experience and expertise. Such short-term engagements are subject to the abatement principle whereby the fees payable are set at a level that ensures that...

Resignation of Minister of State: Statement (27 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: She has already made it.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Redundancy Payments (27 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The person referred to by the Deputy was employed as a full time Special Needs Assistant. A review of the SNA resources in the person's school undertaken by the National Council for Special Education in late 2011 determined that there had been a reduction in the care needs of the children in the school. As a result, the school's allocation of SNA resources was reduced. This resulted in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (27 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I acknowledge that the reduction in resources to second level schools will be challenging for schools. However, the budget measure that requires schools to manage the provision of guidance from within their standard staffing allocation must be seen in the context of the major challenges we have as a Government in trying to shelter public services to the greatest extent that we can in these...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (27 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is currently considering the position relating to the accommodation needs of the school to which he refers and my officials will be in further contact with the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that an Anti-Bullying Forum was held on Thursday 17th May bringing together a range of experts, support groups and representatives of the schools sector including parents and students.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: On 19 June last, my Department published Circular 24/2012 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 County Tipperary, is based on a proposal set out by the Labour Relations...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Reform (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Disability Access Route (D.A.R.E) to education is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on a reduced points basis to school leavers with disabilities. The scheme is operated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. Admissions to the institutions under this programme are regulated by the institutions themselves. Further details are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There is one Delegation of Functions Order currently in force in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Admissions Reform (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The entry requirements for third level education courses are determined by individual higher education institutions and the processing of applications is administered by the CAO on their behalf. My Department does not have any role in relation to the operation of the CAO or the timing of offers of places on courses.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Closed Circuit Television Systems (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 to 72, inclusive, together.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In relation to the use of CCTV, all use of CCTV by schools must be undertaken in compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Acts which require, inter alia, that its use must be proportionate and for a specific purpose. Extensive guidance in this regard is available from the office of the Data Protection Commissioner or on their website www.dataprotection.ie. Under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that an Anti-Bullying Forum was held on Thursday 17th May bringing together a range of experts, support groups and representatives of the schools sector including parents and students. I was very pleased to open this important Forum and to provide an opportunity to explore with all the relevant stakeholders how best to tackle bullying in schools and to consider what...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (26 Sep 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The person referred to by the Deputy will receive her superannuation payments on 27th September 2012.