Results 10,701-10,720 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Earlier this year, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The document, "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent. The paper was not meant to be prescriptive, nor have any decisions been made as to what elements will be contained in any final...

Written Answers — Technological Universities: Technological Universities (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In May of last year, I formally asked the Higher Education Authority to provide advice to me on draft performance criteria for a process for the designation of technological universities. Draft criteria had been developed by an international expert commissioned by my Department following the publication of the national strategy on higher education. In developing their advice, the Authority...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 93 together. The staffing schedule at primary level disproportionally benefits small primary schools. It is worth noting that we have 3,200 primary schools across Ireland. Over two thirds of those schools have more than 86 pupils and, as a result, have far higher average class sizes than all of the schools affected by this measure. For example a two...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November last, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system. Total enrolment in both primary and post-primary schools is expected to grow by almost 70,000 between now and 2018 - over 45,000 at primary level and 25,000 at post primary - and will...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 94, 107 and 108 together. It is worth noting that we have 3,200 primary schools across Ireland. Over two thirds of those schools have more than 86 pupils and, as a result, have far higher average class sizes than all of the schools affected by this measure. For example a two teacher school with 32 pupils has an average class size of 1 teacher for 16...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. The staffing schedule at primary level disproportionally benefits small primary schools. It is worth noting that we have 3,200 primary schools across Ireland. Over two thirds of those schools have more than 86 pupils and, as a result, have far higher average class sizes than all of the schools affected by this measure. For example a...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I announced in the House on 11th January that my Department will report to me within four weeks on the impact of the withdrawal of these posts in DEIS Band 1 and Band 2 primary schools. This report will detail the facts for each individual school affected by this measure, applying the most up to date enrolments for September 2011. In addition, the report will take account of the net effect...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A Master Plan for the site on which the proposed school, referred to by the Deputy, is to be constructed is currently being finalised. The production of the Master Plan is the first step in the process for the delivery of a primary, post primary and special school on the site. My Department is due to meet with the Local Authority in early February to discuss the Plan. The outcome of the...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information which the Deputy has requested is available on the Social Inclusion section of my Department's website at following link - http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/deis_school_list .htm.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as...

Written Answers — Home Tuition Scheme: Home Tuition Scheme (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that my Department's home tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In October 2011, my officials concluded an agreement with SIPTU, the trade union representing the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of VECs, on a redeployment scheme for CEOs in the context of the Croke Park agreement. This scheme will be used, in the first instance, for determining the appointment of CEOs to the new Education and Training Boards, following the enactment of the relevant...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department allocated funding of €9,215,000 in 2010 and €9,015,000 in 2011 to the National Council for Special Education. My Department is currently finalising the funding allocation to the National Council for Special Education for 2012.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post- primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Scoláireachta don Ardoideachas: Scéimeanna Scoláireachta don Ardoideachas (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Mar a d'fhógair mé faoi Bhuiséad 2012, tá sé i gceist scéim aonair nua, stíl sparántachta agus bunaithe ar fhiúntas, a chur in ionad na cúig scéim scoláireachta don Ardoideachas atá ann cheana féin, lena n-áirítear Scoláireacht Sheachtain na Cásca 1916 agus na trí Scoláireacht Gaeilge. Beidh na dámhachtainí faoin scéim nua socraithe ag €2,000 an mac léinn. Beidh an...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The HEA is responsible for collection data on student progression. The most recent report by the HEA entitled 'A study of Progression in Higher Education' is available on the HEA website'. The table from the report that follows this reply illustrates the non-presence rates of new entrants in their second year of study by sector, NFQ level and course duration. New entrants are classified as...

Written Answers — Third Level Enrolments: Third Level Enrolments (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of full time enrolments in publicly funded higher education institutions over last three years are: 2008/09 - 148197; 2009/10 - 157946; 2010/11 - 161647. The actual enrolments in 2010/11 slightly exceed the projected demand for that year (161089). The number of places made available to students is a matter for higher education institutions. Projected demand calculations are...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, all schools are required to have in place a Code of Behaviour and this code must be drawn up in accordance with the guidelines of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB). The NEWB guidelines were issued to schools in 2008 and make it clear that each school must have policies to prevent or address bullying and harassment and schools must make...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Statistics section of my Department's website contains extensive information relating to pupil teacher ratio (PTR) and class size in primary schools. The source of this data is the National School Annual Census. Statistical information in respect of the current school year is currently being compiled in my Department and is due for publication in September 2012. The Deputy will be...