Results 9,181-9,200 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There is significant debate around the relative importance attached to rankings criteria and on their capacity to fully capture the quality of what is on offer in higher education institutions. The Times Higher Education World Reputation rankings are a new set of rankings in its second year and are based on reputational surveys only. Despite some decline, Irish universities continue to...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations and determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted, including the supervision of examinations. In view of the above, I have forwarded your queries to the State Examinations Commission for direct...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit under the Student Grant Scheme. In addition, a further limited number of students who would previously have qualified under the standard grant thresholds will qualify to have a €2,000 contribution made towards the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department specifies the requirements regarding school curriculum and courses of instruction in recognised post-primary schools by way of the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools and a number of departmental circulars. The Rules also apply in the case of post-primary schools in the VEC and Community & Comprehensive sectors. Under Rule 46 of the Rules and Programme a student who is...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Mock examinations are not part of the State examinations system. The decision to organise and/or charge for mock examinations is made at school level, and mock examinations are not a requirement of my Department

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the Deputy refers is close to completion. However, there are a number of technical issues which need to be resolved before the building can be handed over to the school authority. It is anticipated that these issues will be resolved in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The site which is occupied by the two schools referred to by the Deputy is owned by the respective Trustees of those schools and any arrangements regarding shared use of the site are a matter for the school authorities and the respective Trustees. The project for the post-primary school is at an early stage of architectural planning. It was included in the 2014/15 list of projects on the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support which now includes a requirement for them to have regard to the...

Written Answers — Parliamentary Questions: Parliamentary Questions (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not routinely collect data on the number of Parliamentary Questions transferred to other Departments. It is not possible therefore to provide a definitive response to this question. I can confirm that in the six month period from November 2011 to 25 April 2012 my Department answered approximately 2000 Parliamentary Questions. It has been estimated by officials in my...

Written Answers — Educational Projects: Educational Projects (26 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials within my Department will consider the implications of any issues that arise from the work of this coalition, and the research study that it is undertaking, where they are relevant to the education sector.

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I officially launched the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector in April 2011. During the course of its work, the Advisory Group to the Forum conducted a number of public meetings and sought submissions. 215 written submissions were received initially and these were examined by the Advisory Group. Public working sessions with the main...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 61 and 63 together. The Deputy will be aware that I recently published the Report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. The overarching aim of the Forum's work was to ensure that schools cater for diversity and ensure an inclusive and respectful environment for all their pupils. The Advisory Group have...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government recognises that small schools are an important part of the social fabric of rural communities. They will continue to be a feature of our education landscape. However, this does not mean that small schools can stand still or never have their staffing levels changed to something that is more affordable and sustainable for these difficult and challenging times. Around 73 small...

Written Answers — Graduate Statistics: Graduate Statistics (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 to 69, inclusive, together. The data requested is provided in the following Table. Graduate data is not yet available for 2011. However, recent CAO data shows that the number of students expressing a first preference for Science courses (including Computing) at honours degree level (level 8) increased by 18.47% this year and over the five year period...

Written Answers — Information and Communications Techology: Information and Communications Techology (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The ICT Action Plan outlines a range of short and medium term measures to develop a sustainable domestic supply of high quality ICT graduates to support the further expansion and development of the ICT sector and support innovation and growth across other sectors of the economy. Since I published the Plan in January over 760 places have been made available on 17 new ICT conversion programmes...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment provided its advice to me on Junior Cycle Reform in late 2011. Since then, consideration has been ongoing in relation to the implementation of reform. Reform will be introduced on a phased basis. All of the existing subjects are being continued, and Irish (except where there is an exemption), English and Mathematics will remain core...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. The information sought by the Deputy on exemptions from the study of Irish held by students in post-primary schools is not readily available. I have asked my officials to compile the information and to forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available. The specific information sought by the Deputy regarding the breakdown of exemptions...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on hair or make-up since February 2011.

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March 2011, the Government agreed new measures for Cabinet Ministers in relation to the provision of official transport to take effect from 1st May 2011. On my appointment as Minister from the 9th, March 2011 until the 30th, April 2011 I was provided with a state car. From the 1st, May 2011 in line with the revised procedures I have used my own car and I am provided with the services of...