Results 8,781-8,800 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: One of the reasons we outlined how the process would unfold over three years was to enable rural schools in sparsely populated areas to realise that the policy is not a once off decision.

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It probably has jump started it but the process will continue over the next two school years, including the one that is about to commence in September. School communities in these areas are on notice that they should start planning. With regard to rationalisation of the transport system, I am more than happy to speak to the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, Deputy...

Pupil-Teacher Ratios (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes, they can.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I recently announced a programme for the delivery of school buildings over the next five years as part of a major investment programme. A project for a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers was included in that announcement. My Department has reached agreement with Dublin City Council to acquire a site for the new school building and it is my...

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The NCCA has commissioned three 'language' reports in order to inform their work in implementing some of the commitments, contained in the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, that relate to the language curriculum in primary schools. The review of research, to which the Deputy refers, is one of three papers commissioned by NCCA to support the development of a new language curriculum for...

Written Answers — Public Service Allowances: Public Service Allowances (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the review of allowances in the public service which is ongoing at the moment is being conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure & Reform. It would not be appropriate for me at this stage to comment on the detail of this review or to speculate on its possible outcome pending the completion of the review and its consideration by Government.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Newpark Comprehensive is one of five post primary schools in the Dun Laoghaire Post Primary Feeder Area. Overall enrolments in Newpark have increased by 4% in the last 4 years. The building project for Newpark Comprehensive has been included in the 5 year construction programme and is scheduled to commence construction in 2015/16. A stage 2(b) submission was received last week and is...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A circular governing recruitment of teachers was issued last May. This circular sets out to ensure, as far as possible, that people appointed to teach are registered teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and suitable to the post for which they are employed and that unemployed teachers are offered employment in preference to those who have retired. I also indicated last...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the Deputy refers commenced construction in December 2010. The brief is for a new 16 classroom generic repeat design school. The project had a construction period of twelve months and was anticipated to be completed in January 2012. During construction a number of technical and legal issues arose which have delayed the completion of the project. These issues need to be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision to open a new school in Knocknacarra was made following a detailed study of the available demographic data for the area. My officials had a meeting with a deputation of principals from the area in late March to discuss the local principals' concerns regarding the need for a new school in the area. The issues raised by the principals at that meeting are being considered further....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been included in the 5 year construction programme announced in March. The project is at the very early stage of architectural planning and has been scheduled to commence construction in 2015/16. The Design Team has, earlier this month, started work on Stage 1 of architectural planning and has been invited to set a date...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: On 14th May 2012 An Bord Pleanála decided to approve the proposed Strategic Development Zone planning scheme for Grangegorman thereby allowing the development of the site to proceed. Under the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016 announced last November, only projects in the higher education sector with existing contractual commitments will be completed during the period...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Newpark Comprehensive is one of five post primary schools in the Dun Laoghaire Post Primary Feeder Area. Overall enrolments in Newpark have increased by 4% in the last 4 years. The building project for Newpark Comprehensive has been included in the 5 year construction programme and is scheduled to commence construction in 2015/16. A stage 2(b) submission was received last week and is...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The ICT Action Plan, developed in close collaboration with the ICT sector and the enterprise agencies, establishes a target of doubling the annual output of ICT graduates to 2,000 by 2018. In recognition of the fact that it will take time for recent increases in demand for STEM programmes to convert into increased graduate it also provides for a number of measures to increase the supply of...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: To ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of projects to meet the increasing demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment over the next 5 years, particularly in those areas where it has been identified that most future demographic growth will be concentrated. The project for the school referred to by the Deputy, will continue to progress...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of students who took the optional Junior Certificate Irish oral test in 2012 is 7,355 in 142 schools. These figures are indicative. As schools hold these tests themselves our experience has been that the final picture will only become known when the resulting process is complete which will be later in the summer. The total number of students entered for Junior Certificate Irish...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 56, 58, 65 and 77 together. The July Education Programme (July provision) allows schools to open for the month of July, to accommodate pupils with severe and profound educational needs, and children with autism. In order to facilitate the July Education Programme, four payments are payable to school staff: 1. a Preparation allowance (generally paid to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the ability of the Department to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Schools with vacancies are required to fill their vacancies from the list of surplus permanent teachers on the redeployment panels.Surplus permanent teachers are redeployed within each panel area to permanent posts and then as necessary...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Since September 2010, Blackrock Education Centre has been responsible for a central database of part time personnel available for work with the professional development support services and for the management of payments and engagement of such personnel within approved limits. The arrangements in place provide for education centres to directly engage personnel, which may include retired...

Written Answers — School Evaluations: School Evaluations (24 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Work is under way to finalise the report of the value for money review of small primary schools which I expect to receive shortly. After I have received and considered the report, I will arrange publication. I am committed to publication of the review and I look forward to hearing views and contributions from the House to further debate on this issue.