Results 9,201-9,220 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 79 together. The staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on my Department's website. As part of the reforms to the teacher allocation process existing posts are being used to put in place a network of over 2,500 full-time resource posts in close to 1,700 base schools throughout the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met last week. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board. A summary outcome of the appeals is now published on my Department's website. Individual...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills in 2011, my Department has not made any payments to external public relations and communications consultants.

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

Ruairi Quinn: I am happy to report to the Deputy that there has been no delay. The work on portfolios and e-portfolios is being progressed in the overall context of Junior Cycle Reform. I have asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to investigate the area of e-Portfolio assessment and the potential role that e-Portfolios might play in a reformed junior cycle. To inform this process, I...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed below as requested. School Openings 2006 – 2011 Year Opened County Roll No. School Name & Address New school /Amalgamation 2006 Limerick 76101I Gaelcholáiste Luimnigh, c/o Athenaeum Building, 30 Upper Cecil Street, Limerick New School 2006 Galway 76102K Gaelcholáiste Athenry, c/o VEC Offices, Coiléar Bán, Athenry, Co. Galway New...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Initiative the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved institution. With effect from the 2011/2012 academic year, a new student contribution charge was introduced in higher education. This charge...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Circular 31/2011 details a cascade of measures for recruitment of teachers, prioritising unemployed registered teachers over retired registered teachers, and registered teachers over unregistered persons. Each principal must report to his or her board of management on a regular basis on the fact that a list of unemployed registered teachers is being maintained, and the circumstances in which...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. I understand from the awarding authority in this case, County Wexford VEC, that the grant application from the student referred to by the Deputy was approved on the 17th of April 2012.

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

Ruairi Quinn: The arrangements for panel access for fixed term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers are set out in Department Circular 0012/2012 which is available on my Department's website. The panels set up in accordance with the arrangements set out in this circular will be used for appointments to full-time permanent teaching posts but only where those posts are not otherwise required to...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Budget 2012 introduced a phased increase in the pupil threshold for the allocation of classroom teachers in small primary schools. This increase is necessary given our budgetary constraints and rapidly rising school population. It is being phased in over three years to allow communities consider options for re-organisation. We have to ensure that the very valuable but limited resources we...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (24 Apr 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 and I understand that the Minister intends to bring proposals to Government shortly. The Government has reaffirmed the key commitments under the Public Service Agreement, including that there will be no further...

Written Answers — Third Level Participation: Third Level Participation (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Ireland currently performs very strongly in terms of participation in higher education and has the highest tertiary attainment rate among 25-34 year olds in the European Union. Projections published by my Department in June 2011 show that the demand for higher education in Ireland is set to grow by 62% in the next twenty years. While welcome, the scale of projected growth will present major...

Written Answers — Apprenticeship Programmes: Apprenticeship Programmes (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The recently announced Government "Action Plan for Jobs" confirmed a commitment to review our apprenticeship model this year. The intention is to provide an updated model of training that will deliver the necessary skilled workforce to service the needs of a rapidly changing economy. My Department has begun work on a paper setting out the various issues, including those referred to in the...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 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. A Value for Money...

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 42 together. Higher education institutions have delegated to the CAO the task of processing applications to their undergraduate courses and as autonomous institutions are responsible for setting their own eligibility and other entry criteria. Higher Education institutions are currently considering and progressing implementation of the recommendations...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 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 — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (24 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The post graduate course for primary teaching was introduced as a response to a shortage in the supply of primary teachers. The course has not been incorporated as a permanent feature of primary teacher training. The decision to provide further courses is generally made on an annual basis depending on the teacher supply situation. Intake to the courses was reduced in 2010 to 200 places and...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 275 together. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met last week. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board. A summary outcome of the appeals is...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (24 Apr 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. This limits the capacity for any additionality in the DEIS programme. In this context, I have no immediate plans to undertake the type of...

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

Ruairi Quinn: In June 2011, I announced the establishment of 40 new schools nationally within the next six years, comprising of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools including a new post primary school for Claregalway which will be established from September 2013. My Department will be in communication with all those schools on the programme at the appropriate time in relation to...