Results 10,261-10,280 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201, 202, 204 and 223 together. My Department will be notifying schools in the coming weeks of the new staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year. It will include detail of the staffing appeals process and appeal criterion for those small schools that are projecting increased enrolments that would be sufficient to allow them to retain their existing...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and an integrated School Support Programme (SSP). The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS, was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of my Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The project for the school to which the Deputy refers, commenced construction in February 2011. It is anticipated that the project will be complete in quarter 3 of 2012.

Written Answers — School Enrolment: School Enrolment (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 250 together. The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (14 Feb 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. Schools are provided with capitation and school services grants to meet their running costs. Post-primary schools receive school services grant of €201 per pupil plus a...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has carried out a number of site assessments with a view to identifying a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to commercial sensitivities attaching to site acquisitions generally it is not possible for me to comment further at this time.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The process of identifying schools for participation in DEIS in 2005 was managed by the Educational Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of my Department and supported by quality assurance work co-ordinated through the Department's regional offices and the Inspectorate. ERC's overall approach was guided by the definition of educational disadvantage set out in the Education Act 1998 as "the...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Project Maths began in all second level schools in September 2010, building on the experiences of 24 Project Schools which started the programme in 2008. This is being supported by a national programme of professional development for teachers which began in 2009, and will continue to at least 2013. A Project Maths implementation support group, as an industry/education partnership, reported...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The survey conducted by the Teaching Council provided a good overview of the qualifications of math teachers. All post-primary schools were requested to participate in the survey and there were 422 valid responses. The results provide a clear picture of what is actually happening in schools and help the Department to plan for meeting the training needs of teachers. The survey is now closed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: An organisational chart detailing officials and their responsibilities within my Department is set out as follows for the Deputy's information.

Written Answers — Garda Reserve: Garda Reserve (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will appreciate that the decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. However, I am informed that payments made in respect of the Garda Reserve Allowance are taxable and are therefore included in the assessment of income for student grant purposes. The assessment of means under my Department's Student Grants Scheme is based on...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 242 together. Under Circular 70/2011 teachers who have been engaged in a public sector teaching post on or before 4 December 2011 are eligible to retain the allowances they were entitled to be in receipt of on that date. Existing teachers will not be paid any additional allowance where they acquire any further qualification on or after 5 December...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested is included for the Deputy's information. It should be noted that Board appointments, while made by me, as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned. The Deputy may also wish to note that my Department has recently...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The 17 programmes on offer in the new level 8 conversion programme will provide for 768 places countrywide. The courses will be delivered on average over two semesters of 12/13 weeks study and will include a period of about 12 weeks work experience. Applications for the programmes can be submitted online through the Bluebrick.ie website. To date 422 applications have been received. The...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A value for money review on small primary schools is currently under way in my Department. This review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by all Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure and is being conducted in line with the standard procedure for value for money reviews. Work on the review is well advanced and I expect that the report of the review...

Written Answers — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The statistics requested by the Deputy are set out in the attached table. The current average number of graduates from the State-funded colleges is approximately 1,300 per annum. Hibernia College provides a part-time online course. The College has two intakes per year in October and March. The average number of graduates is 650 per annum. All courses are subject to review by the Teaching...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 220, 257 and 262 together. At the outset, I want to be very clear that vacancies created in the teaching profession by the forthcoming wave of public sector retirements up to February 29th 2012 will be filled. Students and pupils will not be left without teachers to teach them as a result of retirements. Furthermore, the turnover in teaching staff will provide...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998. The Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedure document 2011 sets out the procedures for appointment of teachers and special needs assistants at primary level. From 1 December 2011 all advertising of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 to 229, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the format sought. Officials in the Pension Unit of my Department are currently fully occupied addressing the pension benefit entitlements for those who are retiring at this time. The number of teachers in Primary Secondary, Community and Comprehensive schools who have...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (14 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 260 together. Under Circular 70/2011 teachers who have been engaged in a public sector teaching post on or before 4 December 2011 are eligible to retain the allowances they were entitled to be in receipt of on that date. Existing teachers will not be paid any additional allowance where they acquire any further qualification on or after 5 December 2011....