Results 8,861-8,880 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The new arrangements for 2012/13 school year incorporate a long overdue updating of the GAM (learning support) allocation for all schools. This inevitably involves changes to existing clustering arrangements whereby a teacher is shared between schools. Shared full-time posts and travel between schools is a long standing feature of the primary system. There were a plethora of long-standing...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Circular 0056/2011- Initial Steps in the Implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy was issued to Primary Schools in November 2011. Para 5.2 of the Circular informed primary schools that from January 2012 they had to increase the time spent on mathematics by 70 minutes per week. For infants with their shorter school day this will require 3 hours 25 minutes. For other...

Written Answers — School Inspection Reports: School Inspection Reports (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There are 188 schools in the second level sector that offer Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses covering a wide range of disciplines. 167 of these schools provide PLC courses in addition to their curriculum provision for the junior and senior cycles leading to the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate examinations and qualification. Since 2003, the Inspectorate has conducted 1,483...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers has submitted an application for improved accommodation. I can confirm that in the context of considering the application, my Department has carried out a site visit to the school. The outcome of this visit is now being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria under which National Schools are recognised by my Department are outlined in the Education Act 1998 and the Rules for National Schools. Under the criteria, recognition can be withdrawn where a school's pupil enrolment returns to the Department, at 30th September, falls below 8 pupils and remains at this level for at least two consecutive years and where the Patron is satisfied...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. My Department has published the staffing arrangements at post primary level for the coming school year, 2012/13. The relevant Post Primary circular is 0009/2012 which is available on my Department's website. At post primary level schools will have autonomy on how best to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A key priority for me is to continue to prioritise and target available funding at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. All 195 second-level schools in DEIS, including eight of the VEC secondary schools referred to by the Deputy, have been given targeted support by a more favourable staffing schedule of 18.25:1. This is a 0.75 point reduction compared to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The allocation process also includes an appeals mechanism under which schools can appeal against the allocation due to them under the staffing schedule. The VEC referred to by the Deputy has submitted an appeal and will be notified of the outcome of the appeal when the appeal process is completed. The Appeal Board operate independently of the Department and its decision is final. The final...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that there has been ongoing contact with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the proposal to which he refers. A number of potential sites identified have been deemed unsuitable. However, my officials will continue to engage with the relevant stakeholders in relation to identifying a suitable site. The acquisition of a site will be considered in the context...

Written Answers — Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge: Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Tionóladh cruinniú tionscnaimh den Ghrúpa Idir-Rannach ar an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030 ar 8 Feabhra 2012. Bhí ionadaithe i láthair ó roinnt ranna rialtais, an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna ina measc. Nótáil an cruinniú tiomantas an Rialtais go gcuirfí forfheidhmiú na Straitéise 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge chun cinn laistigh d'acmhainní buiséid atá ann cheana....

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department actively seeks ways to minimise any disruption to class time. In 2011, Circulars 8 and 25 set out new arrangements for schools, whereby an additional hour per teacher per week is available in order to provide for a range of essential activities to take place without reducing class contact/tuition time. School management may designate the use of the additional time to deal with...

Written Answers — In-service Training: In-service Training (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: While every effort is made to reduce the impact on teaching time, this is not always possible due to the logistics and numbers of teachers involved in, for example, the national roll out of CPD programmes associated with new or revised curricula, or the implementation of national strategies such as the literacy and numeracy strategy. CPD is offered during school time only when it is...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of junior infants enrolled in 2012/13 will be compiled based on the National School Annual Census Returns 2012/13. Results of the 2012/13 census will be published in September 2013.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The capital allocations for my Department were set out in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework published last November. The schools sector has an allocation for each of the five years as follows: 2012 - €359.5m; 2013 - €364m; 2014 - €464m; 2015 - €471m; and 2016 - €411m. It is expected that the full allocation for 2012 will be expended...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March I announced details of 219 major school building projects which will begin construction over the next five years. This was in addition to the 56 major school building projects already announced for 2012. Due to financial constraints and the need to prioritise projects which will meet the increasing demographic needs over the coming years, it was not possible to include all projects...

Written Answers — Teaching Council: Teaching Council (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Teaching Council's annual accounts for 2011 show a surplus of c. €11m. Of this amount, €4m has been set aside by the Council to cater for contingencies. Interest on funds in 2011 amounted to €252,000 (2010 - €146,000). This interest forms part of the overall income of the Council. The surplus finance will be used to meet the increased costs of the Council as it expands its...

Written Answers — Public Sector Remuneration: Public Sector Remuneration (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform announced a review of allowances and premium payments. Circular 0003/2012 stipulates that allowances are not payable to new beneficiaries; i.e. those who become eligible for receipt of the allowance in question on or after 1 February 2012. Chief Executive Officers who are appointed in a temporary acting capacity...

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: No, I am not saying that.

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There are pubs closing in rural Ireland and the Government is not closing them.

Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill 2011 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (23 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank Deputy Healy-Rae for his comments. The debate on smaller schools will take place when the value for money report, which will be out in a matter of weeks, is available. As for the Bill that is concluding its Second Stage debate, I thank the Deputies for all the contributions made. In particular, I pay tribute to Deputy Smith on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party and Deputy McClellan on...