Results 8,441-8,460 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

School Textbooks (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy on the last matter. Where a workbook and a textbook are integrated into a single document it should not be beyond the boundaries of imagination to construct a disposable workbook alongside the textbook. The textbook would remain valid and each year a cheaper, castaway workbook could be run in tandem with it. It is, in effect, built-in obsolescence to have a workbook...

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department undertook a comprehensive consultation process on the proposed fund. Press advertisements invited views, which could be forwarded by post, e-mail or by a freefone service, which was operated by Barnardos. Officials also met with groups representing survivors of residential institutional abuse, the congregations and a number of other interested parties. Under existing...

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I appreciate what the Deputy is saying. I met with groups before I was Minister and when I was education spokesperson for the Labour Party. I also met constituents who were victims but who did not want me to write to their home address. They had concealed it from the rest of their family and wanted to preserve their privacy. Then there were individuals who did not wish to be associated...

Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I share the Deputy's view in principle. I can tell him that 258 individual responses from the public were received and they broke down as follows: 135 telephone communications, 103 written or e-mail submissions from individuals and 20 written submissions from different organisations. The report on the consultation process within the Department is available on the Department's website but if...

Third Level Funding (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which must be made in the coming years present challenges across all areas of public expenditure, including higher education. At my request the Higher Education Authority, HEA, completed an initial study late last year on sustainability of the current funding system for higher education. The report outlines the...

Third Level Funding (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy on a number of different levels but I am not satisfied yet that we have got the right economies within the higher level education system. I will give him one example. In the area of the provision of initial teacher education for teachers at primary and secondary level, the state of Singapore has one institution that provides the lot for primary and secondary. We...

Third Level Funding (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

Third Level Funding (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: When we get the HEA second report, which is due this year, we should have a debate on it either in the committee or the House.

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that there is no overall reduction in resource teaching numbers for the coming school year. Overall, 9,950 posts will be provided for resource teaching and learning support for this coming academic year. That is the same number as that provided for last year and is an increase of 350 over that provided for in 2010. Some 5,500 of these posts are available...

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not believe they were, but I will arrange for that information to be communicated to the Deputy.

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy. With regard to SNAs, last year was the first time we held back a 10% quota for emergency cases and late applications. This year we announced on the same day, both the SNA allocation and the resource and special teaching support systems. The practice and the experience from last year is informing us and it is probable we will be able to release more posts in the...

Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: That is what we will try to do. With regard to the reduction in the allocation in terms of time and the breakdown of the minutes, a schedule of how the hour should be allocated was drawn up in 1993 and is now being revisited to see if it is an appropriate allocation of different kinds of subvention and support systems for people with learning difficulties. Last year, the reduction of 10%...

Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that in 2011 my Department purchased a site, subject to the granting of planning permission, to construct a new school building for the school in question. My officials have consulted with the planning authority and are currently preparing a planning application for a 16-classroom school. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place,...

Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Subject to confirmation, if necessary, the information I have is that formal planning permission has not yet been received from the local authority. Such permission has a shelf life or validity of five years. I will get back to the Deputy on the issue, but what should happen is that the process of applying for planning permission should proceed, notwithstanding the fact we do not have the...

Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I will examine the matter and will take a personal interest in it.

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It is not meaningful to compare the foreign language policy in primary schools in this country with that prevailing in Britain as the contexts in both jurisdictions are significantly different. In Ireland, there are two national languages, Irish and English, both of which are given recognition under the Constitution. It is the policy of my Department that both of these languages are taught...

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A question would be welcome.

Written Answers — Courses Accreditation: Courses Accreditation (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) have informed my Department that the report in question is at an advanced stage of preparation. HETAC hopes to publish the report in the near future. The report will address issues relating to the academic validation of programmes of education and training in complementary therapies.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The minimum number of teaching days per school year at primary level is 183 full school days. Schools have local flexibility in determining how they make up the required number of teaching days, subject to adherence to the agreed standardisation in relation to the mid-term, Christmas and Easter breaks. Any additional days on which a school closes within this overall framework are a matter for...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (26 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for new student grant applications is a matter for the central grant awarding authority SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland). Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the scheme. Students who are attending undergraduate courses in...