Results 11,321-11,340 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180, 184, 192 and 194 together. At this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2012/13 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget and meeting our...

Written Answers — Croke Park Agreement: Croke Park Agreement (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Action Plans, Progress Reports and Savings Reports under the Public Service Agreement 2010 – 2104 for State Agencies under my Department's remit for the period up to April 2011 are available on the Departments website at: http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?maincat=17216&pcategor y=17216&ecategory=59433&language=EN. The Implementation Body for the Agreement is currently considering...

Written Answers — School Building Projects: School Building Projects (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: It is envisaged that planning application will be lodged in early 2012. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that construction of Phase I will commence in late 2012 and be completed in August 2013.

Written Answers — Literacy and Numeracy Levels: Literacy and Numeracy Levels (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Irish 15 year old students have participated in two recent international studies of achievement levels in literacy and numeracy. These were the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009 which tested students' reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy using traditional pencil-and-paper tests and the OECD PISA 2009 Digital Literacy Assessment which...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The qualification referred to by the Deputy is awarded by an awarding body from outside the State and not by FETAC. The awarding body in question had a number of awards aligned with the National Framework of Qualifications in 2009, including a number of awards in the field of beauty therapy. However, the particular award title referred to by the Deputy is not included in the list of...

Written Answers — Bullying in Schools: Bullying in Schools (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Education Act 1998, legally, all schools are managed by school Boards of Management, on behalf of the school patrons or trustees, and it is the Board of Management that employ the teachers at the school. Accordingly, whereas I provide funding and policy direction for schools, neither I nor the Department have legal powers to instruct schools to follow a particular course of...

Written Answers — School Discipline: School Discipline (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy should be aware that the DES report was completed in October 2010. Also, the Deputy is advised that the HSE report to which he has referred was not published. It is a condition of my Department's recognition of the school that the recommendations of both reports are implemented. The School currently enjoys provisional recognition from my Department. The Board of Management of...

Written Answers — Student Grant Applications: Student Grant Applications (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority in the first instance. Where a grant application is refused, an applicant may appeal this decision to the grant awarding authority's appeals officer. Where the appeals officer decides to reject the appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department or the independent Student...

Written Answers — Higher Education Budget: Higher Education Budget (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available but I will arrange to have it forwarded when compiled.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The project for the school to which the Deputy refers was included in the School Building Works Programme for 2011. The Stage 2B submission (i.e. Detailed Design) was submitted recently to my Department and is currently being reviewed. When that review is complete, officials from the Department will be in contact with the Board of Management regarding the further progression of the project.

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Strategy to Improve Literacy and Numeracy Among Children and Young People contains initiatives and actions across a broad range of areas. The Strategy focuses on achieving better literacy and numeracy outcomes for our children and young people through the best use of the resources at our disposal. Many of the approaches set out in the Strategy have no cost implications. There...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The details of the provision for the Supervision and Substitution scheme for teachers employed in primary, secondary and community/comprehensive schools for the school years 2010/11 and 2011/12 are included in the following table. Supervision and Substitution scheme 2010/11 school year Provision for Supervision and Substitution scheme 2011/12 school year Primary €57,808,929...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, supervising the examinations, making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination and determining procedure to enable the review and appeal of results of examinations at the request of candidates....

Written Answers — Religious Denominations: Religious Denominations (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 to 201, inclusive, together. The religious denomination of individual pupils is not collected by my Department.

Written Answers — Public Service Reform: Public Service Reform (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The electronic issue of payslips to school employees and pensioners will be considered by officials in my Department, in the context of Public Service reform and the current budgetary position, with a view to implementing a cost effective electronic payslip system by the end of 2014.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the applicant's local grant awarding authority - the relevant local authority or VEC. The guidance given to local authorities and VECs in relation to the application of the distance criterion for student grants is that the shortest, most direct route to the institution attended is measured. The implementation of this guidance...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the applicant's local grant awarding authority - the relevant local authority or VEC. The guidance given to local authorities and VECs in relation to the application of the distance criterion for student grants is that the shortest, most direct route to the institution attended is measured. The implementation of this guidance...

Written Answers — School Inspection Reports: School Inspection Reports (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Whole-School Evaluation Management, Leadership and Learning (WSE-MLL) is a new model of evaluation in post-primary schools which was trialled in schools during 2009 and 2010. WSE-MLL was formally introduced to the education system in January 2011. The Inspectorate conducted 24 trial WSE-MLL evaluations in 2010. In 2011 the Inspectorate expects to conduct more than 90 such evaluations of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's officials are currently finalising arrangements to effect the government decision regarding direct Ministerial appointments to State boards and issues regarding the advertising of future vacancies will be addressed in this context. For the Deputy's information the following appointments have been made to the Boards of the Bodies under the aegis of my Department since my...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (15 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Since February 2011 I have appointed the following in accordance with the terms of the Department of Finance Guidelines published on the 24th, March 2011. Neither of these appointments exceed the pay scales applicable for the positions. Appointee Title Salary Ian O'Mara Personal Assistant €47,304 p.a. Neil Ward Personal Secretary €45,004 p.a. Mr. O'Mara was formerly employed by me...