Results 1,221-1,240 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Parliamentary Questions Costs (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The cost of answering a Parliamentary Question and the time taken to answer all questions vary considerably according to the level of information requested. Staff are not assigned full time to deal with Parliamentary Questions, they are dealt with, as the need arises, by officials in the sections dealing with the particular issue(s) raised in Parliamentary Questions. Time spent on an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technology in Schools (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not endorse or promote any product for use in schools. The decision on which device to use in a school to support implementation of the curriculum is made by each individual school themselves. The Professional Development Service for Teachers (Technology in Education) does not sanction the use and purchase of any particular brand of tablet device. They are available to advise schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technology in Schools (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Professional Development Service for Teachers (Technology in Education) does not endorse or promote any product for use in schools. They are available to advise schools on how to integrate technology in teaching and learning. The decision on the introduction of tablet devices and the type of tablet purchased is one that rests with the Board of Managment of a school.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As I stated in a previous reply to the Deputy, it is a matter for the Board of Management of each individual school to decide on its own school policy regarding whether or not workbooks are to be used in the school. Therefore, there was no decision made by the Department of Education and Skills or by any Minister to use workbooks in national schools.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy should be aware that while the current Primary School Curriculum was introduced into schools in 1999, the inclusion of local history has been a feature of the history curriculum since 1971. The introduction to the Primary School Curriculum states that "The exploration of local history remains a central element of the curriculum at all levels, but as children mature they encounter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As my answer to your Parliamentary Question Number 141 of 11 March made clear, it is a matter for each Board of Management of a school to decide in its own school policy in relation to the use of workbooks. Any decisions of the teaching staff in relation to the use of workbooks must be in line with the school policy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: There should be no assumption by the Deputy that I consider that there a need for workbooks in schools. In fact, the Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes that I commissioned state clearly that "A number of strategies can be used to avoid the need for workbooks".

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Primary History curriculum delineates historical skills that are to be developed progressively by children and a number of strands which outline the historical topics and periods to be explored by the child. The strands have been designed to ensure that children experience a broadly balanced history programme. They reflect major historical periods, important genres of historical enquiry...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoileanna Issues (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together. In June 2011, I announced that some 20 new primary schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. That announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new school in any of the areas referred to by the Deputy. My Department continues to analyse demographic data on a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for any amalgamation belongs to the Patron of a school, subject to the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills. My Department's role is to facilitate any such proposal or discussions between the relevant parties. The initiative for any amalgamation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Board of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Education Act 1998, it is the duty of the patron to appoint, where practicable, a Board of Management. The agreed procedures for the appointment of Boards of Management of primary schools are set out in my Department's publication "Constitution of Boards and Rules of Procedures 2011". The booklet is available on my Department's website www.education.ie. This booklet also sets...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is envisaged that the property portfolio of Dublin Institute of Technology shall be disposed of with proceeds utilised against the overall costs of development of the Grangegorman site.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Responsibilities (8 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I refer the Deputy to the provisions of the Protected Disclosures Bill, 2013 which is currently being considered by the Oireachtas. Under Section 8 of the Bill a disclosure can be made by any worker who is or was employed in a public body to a Minister of the Government on whom any function in relation to the public body is conferred or imposed any enactment. It is my understading that...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I think everyone in the House got a similar e-mail and all of us cannot but empathise with her difficulty. I do not have the information, but I suggest the Deputy table a written question or raise it by way of an oral question with the Minister for Health.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I think the Deputy is referring to the technological universities legislation. The draft heads of that Bill have gone to the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection for scrutiny. I am hoping to get a report back from the committee as soon as possible, but realistically sometime between May and June. Then it will go to the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. I do not expect to...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The first matter in respect of adoption is up for discussion within the Cabinet. There are issues with it that I know the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, is anxious to resolve and to bring forward the legislation as quickly as possible. The other matter raised is still under consideration.

Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. It is something in which all of us, especially those of us on the Joint Committee on Education and Social Protection, have a big interest. It has gone to the Parliamentary Counsel for drafting. The content and the heads of the Bill have been agreed and cleared. Much work has been done prior to this and there are about 15 sections in the Bill. I...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for his question. I share his sense of frustration that we are not processing business as quickly as we would like. One of the factors that has surprisingly caused us a delay has been the length of time that some committees are taking to process legislation, but ultimately responsibility rests with us. There are Bills ready to go and I think the Whips can discuss this in...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: On the last matter raised by the Deputy, I will have to refer back to her with an accurate answer. She will receive a letter accordingly on the matter. On the first matter, a letter has been sent to the Deputy by the Minister, Deputy Shatter. She might not have seen it yet, but it is dated 21 March.