Results 9,321-9,340 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of posts available in this school year under the special needs assistant, SNA, scheme is capped at 10,575 under the employment control framework, as set out in the programme for national recovery and signed up to under the memorandum of understanding with the troika. In September 2011 the NCSE allocated 10,100 posts to schools while retaining 475 posts to cover late and emergency...

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy is basically correct. We have the employment control framework figure of 10,575 and this was communicated to the NCSE. Last year, its SENOs communicated to all the schools that 10% was being retained in order to deal with late applications and emergency cases. Unfortunately, the communication was not properly or clearly understood and, in some cases, understandably - I am not...

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not have the information on that question. Obviously, given population growth at primary and secondary level and the pupil-teacher ratio as numbers increase - we are expecting an increase of 70,000 between primary and secondary over the coming years - mainstream regular teachers will automatically be applied in addition to what is in place. At this point, I do not have the precise...

Special Educational Needs (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not have the factual information the Deputy is seeking. It would be better to put down questions for written reply. With regard to Deputy Wallace's question, to the best of my knowledge, the appeals process has not been abolished, although it may be under review as to how it should operate. I will come back to the Deputy on that as I do not have the information to hand.

School Staffing (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally, irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data...

Irish Language (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A number of education related actions in the 20-year strategy are already underway, especially in regard to teacher education, reform of the curriculum at primary and post-primary level and the provision of teaching resources. The strategy recognises the importance of equipping teachers to teach through the medium of Irish. As part of the national literacy and numeracy strategy, I have...

Irish Language (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have taken note of Deputy Crowe's supplementary questions. Some of the queries raised are not fully covered in the documents before me. I will write to the Deputy about these. Since we had to find savings somewhere we reduced the financial support for teachers taking support courses in the Gaeltacht. The arrangement now is that they make the contribution for the courses. I am speaking...

Irish Language (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy's concerns. However, within reason all sections of the education budget had to take some portion of the overall burden of budget adjustment. There was a favourable pupil-teacher ratio for gaelscoileanna compared with other schools. I have removed that favourable ratio. As Deputy Crowe is aware, this has in no way indicated a decline in the demand for participation...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A clear, four stage process and criteria for designation as technological university was published in February of this year. Institutions proposing to merge and apply for designation as technological universities, including those in the south east, must submit a formal expression of interest within a six month period and will be advised within a further six months whether they can proceed to...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As part of the process, the Higher Education Authority has written to all the institutions, including the institutes of technology and other third level colleges. The authority has given the institutions six months to respond to the recommendations of what is known as the Hunt report, the review of higher education that my predecessor and the Administration of which Deputy Smith was a member...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am unsure of the precise technical answer to that question but let me offer an opinion. I have established a good working relationship with my counterpart in Northern Ireland who now has total responsibility for higher level education. This was previously the remit of another Minister in the Executive there. He has the same range as I have now. We are considering cross-Border...

University Status (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have embarked on a survey in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Mr. John O'Dowd, of parents of children at both primary and post-primary level living along a corridor 30 km wide from Derry to Newry with a view to determining the degree of demand for sending children across the Border to school for whatever reason, whether ethos, convenience, catchment area or...

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Since becoming Minister I have written to the chairpersons of university governing bodies requesting them to ask all relevant individuals, including presidents, earning in excess of €200,000 to make voluntary waivers of salary. While two individuals, one of whom is a university head, have agreed to make personal arrangements with their employer regarding a deduction of the amount of salary...

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Subject to confirmation, I understand the reason they are excluded is that they have a dual employment in that they have chosen, within the nature of medical education, to be both teachers and practising consultants at the same time. As such, their salary is from two sources, bringing it way over the €200,000 benchmark.

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have no immediate proposals to renew my request. However, I am convening a meeting with the presidents and chairpersons of the governing bodies of the various third level institutions at which this issue may well be on the agenda.

Third Level Staff (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am conscious that some of the older universities are not accustomed to the close engagement of either the Higher Education Authority or the Department. The types of economies to which Deputy Smith referred are self-evident common sense. No commercial enterprise could afford to allow expensive plant and equipment to lie idle for long periods. Nor is this an issue only in the university...

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy about the challenges arising from rapidly increasing enrolments in our schools. That is why certain budgetary measures regarding teacher allocations have been introduced and further measures will be required in future years in order to manage teacher payroll costs. My Department is projecting that enrolments at second level will continue to rise over the next decade,...

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Whatever about the Deputy, I certainly do not intend to be here.

School Enrolments (19 Apr 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I share Deputy Brendan Smith's sentiments and assure him that there is serious long-term planning within the Department. It has been reinforced since my arrival at its Marlborough Street headquarters. The Department has put in place a new design and build procurement process and mobilised additional resources from across the public sector. For example, the Office of Public Works has spare...