Results 9,001-9,020 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (15 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Implementation of the revised mathematics syllabuses began in all schools in 2010. The syllabuses were developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), which has a representative structure including organisations representing teachers. Both the development of the syllabuses and the associated professional development support has been informed by the experiences of a...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (15 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that as outlined in the Five Year Plan and in view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet significant demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The Five Year school building programme is focused on meeting those...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (15 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June 2011, I announced that 20 new primary schools are to be established up to 2015 across a number of locations to cater for increasing demographics. My Department invited patrons and prospective patron bodies to make applications for patronage of the new primary schools that are due to be established in 2012 and 2013. Following my consideration of the recommendations of the New Schools...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The basis for the decision to open a new school in Knocknacarra was made following a detailed study of the available demographic data for this area. I am aware that my officials had a meeting with a deputation of principals from Galway City West Schools on 29th March, 2012 to discuss the local principals' concerns regarding the need for a new school in the Knocknacarra area. The issues raised...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A key priority for my Department is to prioritise and target resources in schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. That challenge is significant given the current economic climate and the target to reduce public expenditure. Therefore, there is no capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme. The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The income threshold for this level of grant is currently being determined in the context of the formulation of the student grant scheme for the 2012/13 academic year. It is expected that the scheme will be published to coincide with the projected go-live date for the new online grant application system on 28 May 2012.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant awarding authority. Where the appeals officer decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for a complete upgrade of the electrical services in the school. The School Authority has been informed that the scale of the works sought was outside the scope of the Emergency Works Scheme. The School Authority was requested to identify the most urgent electrical works...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A full-time equivalent staffing complement of 65 posts has been approved to operate Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI - a division of the City of Dublin VEC) which will include the assessing of applications.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has applied for additional funding for a sports hall. In view of the constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding for the provision of essential school accommodation, my Department is not in a position to provide funding for this project at this time.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has an application for the provision of a sports hall with the Department. Information in respect of the current status of all assessed applications for major capital works, including this project, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. In view of the constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The planned go-live date for the new online grant applications system is 28th May, 2012.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As outlined in the Five Year Plan, the delivery of major school projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. Due to the financial constraints imposed by the need to prioritise available funding to meet future demographic demands, it has not been possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. The...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government does not plan to review the decision to end the modern languages in primary schools initiative. As the Deputy is aware the decision to end the scheme took account of a 2008 Report by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The report identified serious issues with curricular overload at primary level. The NCCA's advice recommended for the present modern...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (10 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As outlined in the Five Year Plan, the delivery of major school and extension projects required to meet demographic demand will be the main focus for capital investment in the coming years. In that regard, it has not been possible to advance all applications for capital funding concurrently. School building projects currently in architectural planning, including those projects not included...

Written Answers — Third Level Entrance Examinations: Third Level Entrance Examinations (9 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 57 together. The selection criteria for admission to medical programmes are determined by the higher education institutions in line with their statutory autonomy in academic affairs. The introduction of HPAT in 2009 had regard to the findings of the Working Group on Undergraduate Medical Education & Training: Medical Education in Ireland: A New...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Springboard is a specific initiative to provide part time higher education places targeted at unemployed people who have lost jobs in sectors where employment levels will not return and who will need new qualifications and skills to re-enter employment in areas where sustainable opportunities may arise as the economy recovers. A first-stage process evaluation of Springboard was published by...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (9 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department will shortly be making direct contact with the school authority in the context of the matters raised by her.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (9 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I believe that the Deputy may have misunderstood the reply given by the Taoiseach on 1 May 2012 to a question concerning the modern languages in primary schools initiative. In his reply, the Taoiseach did not give a commitment to review the decision to end the modern languages in primary school initiative. He did however state that the primary curriculum is being reviewed by the NCCA in the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (9 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: At a Government meeting held on the 15th March, 2011, it was decided to reduce the number of staff permitted in Minister's Private Offices from 10 to 8 and Minister of State's Private Offices from 7 to 5. The number of staff permitted in Minister's Constituency Offices was reduced from 6 to 4 and Ministers of State's Constituency Offices from 5 to 3. The staffing of these offices at my...