Results 861-880 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Statistics (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Information received from the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs states that in 2011, 19% of the labour force had qualifications at NFQ Levels 1-3, which is below leaving certificate level. I understand that in 2013, the latest available figures indicate that the number of those in the labour force with qualifications at NFQ Levels 1-3 stood at 15%.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The expenditure on training for the unemployed funded by my Department for each of the past five years is set out in the table. It includes programmes delivered by FÁS/SOLAS, Department of Social Protection, Skillnets, the Labour Market Training Fund, Momentum, Springboard and the ICT Skills Conversion Programme. Year € 2009 €266 million 2010 €298 million 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Activation Measures (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Labour Market Activation Fund (LMAF) was launched in March 2010 in order to support the creation of training and education programmes for specific priority groups among the unemployed. These groups were the low skilled and those formerly employed in declining sectors - construction, retail and manufacturing sectors - with particular emphasis on the under 35s and the long-term unemployed....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Funding (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that in each of the years 2011, 2012 and 2013 Skillnets was allocated a budget of €14.5 m. 42,113 individuals participated on their programmes in 2011. 43,974 individuals were trained in 2012. In 2013, 45,712 individuals participated on programmes. These figures include training for both the employed and unemployed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of apprentices registered during each year since 2010 are as follows: Year: Registrations: 2010 1,204 2011 1,307 2012 1,434 2013 1,479 2014 (YTD 28/4/14) 804 If a SOLAS registered apprentice's employment has been terminated due to insufficient work being available he/she should: inform their SOLAS Training Adviser immediately of his/her redundant status; register...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service Staff (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA), full details of which are on the Department's website. Under this scheme schools can have an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Intercultural Education Strategy, published in 2010, has moved Irish education in the direction of embracing and teaching proactively about Traveller culture, and other cultures, in Ireland. The Intercultural Education Strategy was influenced by the Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy published in 2006. Inclusion was a core principle of that report as was the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the measures outlined in the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, the Inspectorate supports the improvement of literacy and numeracy in schools as part of its evaluation and advisory role within the educational system. School inspections include evaluation of the quality of learning in literacy and numeracy. Evaluation reports identify good educational practice in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A key goal for my Department is the provision of a quality and inclusive school and early year's education system with improved learning outcomes for all. There are social inclusion elements to the Department's expenditure across the education continuum and these are funded under specific measures to tackle educational disadvantage. These measures include key areas of service delivery at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ireland Strategic Investment Fund Investments (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) was established in 2006 with a major emphasis on promoting inter-institutional collaboration in bringing about substantial change, reform and quality improvement within the higher education system. The SIF was a dedicated and ring-fenced multi-annual fund and it funded projects in the areas of access and lifelong learning, teaching and learning, research,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Private Partnerships Data (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has in place six Public Private Partnerships contracts details of which are set out in the table. Separately my Department has a further three PPP projects that currently are at planning stage namely Schools Bundle 4, Schools Bundle 5 and Grangegorman. Contracts have not yet been executed for these latter projects. The purpose and scope of the existing contracts entails...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grants Data (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the table. Data 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 Total Higher Education Grantholders* 61,456 67,650 70,393 Full-time Students in Higher Education (approved Institutions) 160,972 162,786 164,498 Expenditure on Student Grants Financial Year (2009/10 = 2009)** €361,991,807.83 €355,057,000.00 €336,350,735.99 *Grantholder...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Evaluations (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The School Improvement Group monitors the process of follow-up by schools where significant weaknesses have been identified in the overall quality of teaching and learning; leadership and management; compliance with statutory requirements or regulations or codes of practice; or capacity to implement a programme of improvement. 76 schools have been referred to the group since its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A working group to review the Deed of Trust for Community Schools was established in 2011. The purpose of this review was to consider changes that may be required in the Deed of Trust of Community Schools to reflect legislative and other developments that have occurred since it was first developed. A number of meetings of the group have taken place and good progress has been made in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Programmes (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council is piloting a new model of induction and probation for newly qualified teachers (NQTs). This new model is called Droichead and it is a pilot project which will run from 2013 to 2016 and is being independently researched by the ESRI (Economic and Social Research Institute). Training for Professional Support Teams (PST) involved in the Droichead pilot, at school level, is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Work Placement Programmes (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Work Placement Programmes (FAS WPP1 for graduates and WPP2 for non-graduates), along with the JobBridge National Internship Scheme, are operated and managed by the Department of Social Protection. These schemes provide an opportunity for the exchange of expertise and experience between the host organisation and those in a placement/internship. An internship/placement may provide a newly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Inquiries (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I have initiated two inquiries under section 105 of the Vocational Education Act, 1930, since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills. The Deputy should note that following the commencement of the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013, all of the previous legislation concerning Vocational Education Committees have been repealed, including the VEC Act of 1930. However, section...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 to 92, inclusive, together. The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme also provides a compensatory educational service for children awaiting a suitable educational placement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Sports Facilities Provision (7 May 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department does not provide funding to fee charging schools in respect of sports complexes. Sports Complexes were established between 1972 and 1974 in the Community & Comprehensive school sector and it was anticipated that they would be operated on a self-financing basis. Currently there are four sports complexes in the Community & Comprehensive school sector that...