Results 1,121-1,140 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Other Questions: School Curriculum (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of those reports. These concerns have also been raised by a number of people in my party and other parties in the House. I welcome this question. Notwithstanding the independence and ethos of each school, I have been informed about the invitations to external visitors and agencies that are issued by such schools. According to my note, all programmes and events delivered by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As Minister for Education and Skills, a responsibility the Deputy may well have himself some day, with a mandate from the electorate and accountability to other Deputies, one cannot be put in a position in which a stakeholder simply says "No, you cannot change the status of exams." That is what the unions have said. The two unions have said they are ultimately opposed to removing the State...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: We are tight for time. In fact, we lost the summer months for discussion as one of the unions was re-balloting its members in relation to Haddington Road, a separate issue altogether. I confirm to the Deputy that I have not received formally and in writing from the unions notice of the extra resources they want. We have received from management bodies at post-primary level suggestions...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes. They are still engaging in that forum and we are still making progress.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Caranua that between 6 January and the end of March it received 2,345 applications. The first part of the application process is to verify that an applicant is eligible to apply. To the end of March, 2,145 applications have been verified as eligible and 20 deemed ineligible. The remaining 180 applications are still being examined. Following the initial assessment,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As with all new organisations, there were some teething problems in the establishment of Caranua. The chairperson of the board had to step down for personal reasons. Notwithstanding that, we have a director in place and approximately 15% of the potential 15,000 eligible persons have applied. I will discuss with the board whether the information provided to the interest group has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Residential Institutions Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: If the Deputy wishes to give me the details of the case, I will explore it within the context of the independence of the organisation itself.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Teachers' Panel Rights (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: At primary level, a teacher exchange scheme exists whereby a teacher may voluntarily exchange with a teacher in any other school. The minimum period for which an exchange may occur is one year and the maximum is five years. There are 25 exchanges involving 50 teachers currently in place in primary schools. Given that such exchanges are for limited periods of time, it is not appropriate for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 4 together. The junior cycle student award, JCSA, will no longer be a terminal exam with high stakes. Treating it as such has been shown to have an unintended negative backwash effect on teaching and learning in the classroom and can, in some cases, lead to an unnecessary focus on rote learning. Our 15 year olds do not need a State-certified...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Examinations Reviews (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for his question and his support in this matter. Nobody is suggesting that we should go back to the primary certificate examination that was done away with in 1967. It is, in the same vein, a political decision to do away with the State examination for 15 year olds. That decision is my responsibility. In terms of how it is implemented, I am, of course, open to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education Reform (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The broad tenets of higher education policy in Ireland were set out in the National Strategy for Higher Education published January 2011. I am implementing a wide ranging reform programme in higher education based in part on the NSHE which will enhance the quality of research, teaching and engagement in the system, modernise governance and accountability of institutions and a restructuring...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Grievance and Appeals Procedures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Section 28 of the Education Act 1998 provides for grievance and appeal procedures in schools. It expresses a desirability of determining appeals and resolving grievances in the school concerned. Section 29 of the Act sets out a limited set of circumstances a parent can appeal administrative decisions of a school. These are confined to expulsions, suspensions or refusal to enroll. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Work is ongoing between my Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on future funding policy for higher education. This builds upon the substantial amount of work already undertaken by the HEA. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined, will achieve a sustainable funding base to address the continual expansion of the sector while protecting the quality of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There are a number of internet-based teaching devices in use in classrooms, including Interactive Whiteboards, laptops, desktop computers and tablet computers. All schools in the country have been offered a broadband internet connection to enable them access the internet with a dedicated Broadband support desk to support them. There have been continual improvements in the speeds being made...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I have received many representations on this general matter. The Deputy will be aware that a new post primary school is opening in Maynooth in September 2014. This new school will have an all-Irish Aonad for which circa 40 pupils are currently enrolled for 1st year. In addition to an existing Gaelchóláiste serving the general area, this development will help to service all-Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy is seeking to remain as a 4-teacher school on the basis of its enrolments of 84 pupils at 30 September 2013 and 3 additional pupil enrolments in March 2014. The school submitted an appeal to the Staffing Appeals Board on this basis. While there is provision for recognising enrolments in October 2013 there is no provision in the appeals process for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that there is a wide ranging programme of reform underway across the education and training sector and one of the key aims is to ensure the continued development of skills appropriate to enterprise, particularly through the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, reform of the Junior Cycle, the establishment of the local Education and Training...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Generally, the Board of Management is responsible for contracts which exist between a school and a supplying contractor. The remedy for any breach in a contract is governed by Contract Law. Where schools receive devolved funding from my Department for the provision of additional accommodation, the Board of Management is responsible for acquiring this accommodation in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's policy promotes a child centred approach to the education of children with special needs including autism. Children with autism can enrol in an early intervention class from the age of three and if a placement is not available home tuition is provided. Home tuition is also provided for children with autism from the age of two and a half. The NCSE is currently preparing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Current school admissions policy or indeed the changes to admission policy that I want to bring about can influence how individuals are treated fairly in any one school when seeking admission, but admission policy cannot in itself address the issue raised by the Deputy. It is the work done by the Planning and Building Unit of my Department that can ensure that there are sufficient school...