Results 8,081-8,100 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Pilot Training Courses: Pilot Training Courses (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the students of the Pilot Training College (PTC) in Waterford undertake a 3 year BSc (Hons) in Airline Transport Operations in conjunction with Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT). There are 8 students currently on this course. PTC is responsible for the recruitment of students onto the programmes and students pay course fees directly to that company, not to WIT. I...

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Two Special Advisors were appointed to assist me in carrying out my functions and advising me on educational policy. In accordance with the terms of the Ethics in Public Office Acts copies of the appointees' contracts of employment together with details of their qualifications were laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on the 28th, October 2011.

Written Answers — Ministerial Advisers: Ministerial Advisers (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The following is a list of special advisors that served during the tenure of the last three Ministers at this Department. As allowed for under the staffing guidelines for Ministerial Offices Ms. Coughlan had three special advisors as in addition to her ministerial portfolio she held the office of Tánaiste: Mary Coughlan, T.D. An Tánaiste & Minister for Education & Science 23rd March 2010...

Special Educational Needs (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue. I advise the Deputy that there has been no reduction in the number of teaching staff allocated in the special school sector for the forthcoming school year. The NCSE is responsible, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, to schools to support...

Special Educational Needs (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Government has maintained funding for resources for children with special educational needs at a time when, as everybody in the House will be aware, there is a continued requirement to make expenditure savings across a range of areas. The programme for Government clearly states that education will be a priority for the Government and that we will...

School Curriculum (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. If the reply I give is not fully complete, I will come back to her in writing subsequently. Project Maths began as a pilot in 24 schools in 2008 and is being developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. It was mainstreamed from September 2010 when it became available to all schools. The first mainstream examinations were...

School Curriculum (18 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy once again for providing me with an opportunity to address the many concerns that have been expressed about the content of the Project Maths programme and the way in which it is being taught at present. Project Maths is designed to transform teaching and learning in maths at both junior and senior cycle. It should enable students to develop an understanding of the hows...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have serious concerns regarding Deputy Seán Crowe's proposals as set down in amendments Nos. 9 and 18, that an assessment panel comprising four members of the statutory fund board be established to examine applications from persons who did not make an application to the redress board, or who will have a court determination made in an action arising from their residency in a scheduled...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As both Deputies have said, we have had a long discussion on this point. At what stage do we bring this process to a close? I believe we are getting close to that point. I fully respect the bona fides and good intentions both of Deputy Crowe and Deputy Daly in this regard, but €1.4 billion has been spent. We are trying to move on to the next stage now in order to deal with the existing...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I addressed the issue earlier. The effect of the amendment is to extend eligibility of the fund to the children and grandchildren of former residents. It will also include employment opportunities. It remains the Government's position that eligibility for the new fund should be confined to former residents. The Education Finance Board did excellent work in terms of distributing the money...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not accept that this additional level of protection is required in the Bill. Counselling services are specifically provided for in section 8 as a class of approved service. While I appreciate the Deputy's concern to ensure former residents' existing counsellors will be retained once the fund is established, I do not see how that position would be threatened simply because the fund is...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I refer Deputy Clare Daly to section 10 under which the Minister of the day is empowered to give directions in writing to the board requiring it to comply with such policies of the Government as are specified in that direction. That power is available to the Minister, and we will be keeping the matter under review. If a scenario such as the Deputy has outlined does arise - she has indicated...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the sense behind the Deputy's amendment but I am confident the meaning of the relevant provision is clear. I am tempted to inquire as to whether the Socialist Party would want to reinvent the Marxist dialectic into a category struggle rather than a class struggle in terms of the dialectical evolution of society. The word "classes" is clearly understandable as being in reference...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The effect of the Deputy's amendment would be to preclude the board from taking account of an applicant's financial circumstances when determining its criteria. The whole purpose of the fund which is not a large sum of money is to allow it to target its resources to meet the needs of former residents. The section requires the board to have regard to the need to take account of the...

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: We will take steps to ensure that is the case.

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move amendment No. 21: In page 24, line 26, to delete "terms of" and substitute the following: "terms, or may be inconsistent with the charitable purposes of,".

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move amendment No. 23: In page 29, line 15, to delete "terms of" and substitute the following: "terms, or may be inconsistent with the charitable purposes of,".

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move amendment No. 24: In page 29, line 21, to delete "terms of" and substitute the following: "terms, or may be inconsistent with the charitable purposes of,".

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move amendment No. 25: In page 29, line 35, to delete "terms of" and substitute the following: "terms, or may be inconsistent with the charitable purposes of,".

Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill 2012: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (17 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move amendment No. 26: In page 30, line 15, after "purpose" to insert "of the transfer".