Results 13,501-13,520 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am anxious to ensure that progress continues to be made in the work of bringing about a reduction in the number of VECs. To that end I will be considering the matter raised by the Deputy in the coming period, in tandem with other issues that have been the subject of a recently concluded consultation process with the relevant stakeholders. Specifically, these issues are: to determine the HQ...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied to be...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The standardisation of the staffing schedule for Gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally is one of a number of measures in Budget 2011 to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given our budgetary situation it is not possible to reverse these changes. This change will result in a reduction of the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application for the works as specified under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Applications for funding under the scheme are currently being processed in my Department, as outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the Scheme, and the school authority will be notified of the decision on the application shortly.

Written Answers — Literacy Levels: Literacy Levels (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The new Programme for Government contains commitments in relation to the improvement of literacy levels in two key areas. As part of its Labour Market Policy, the Government will make literacy and basic workplace skills a national priority, with literacy training incorporated into a wider variety of further education and training programmes. The Government will also address the widespread...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Class size data for primary schools is compiled by my Department on an annual basis and is available on the Department's website. The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for allocating mainstream teaching posts to all schools irrespective of what county they are in. School authorities are advised in the staffing schedule to ensure that the number of pupils in any class is kept as low as...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for a school building project to provide an extension. In accordance with the published criteria for large scale building projects, the project for this school has been assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The new post primary school to be provided in Ballinamore, County Leitrim is one of eight schools which were approved for inclusion in the 3rd bundle of schools to be procured via Public Private Partnership. This bundle was handed over to the National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) in July 2010 to commence the tender procurement process. This process is ongoing and a number of consultation...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Report of the Expert Group called for the introduction of bonus points for higher level mathematics in the Leaving Certificate. I am pleased to say that all third level institutions have collectively decided to operate a bonus points scheme for higher level mathematics for a four year trial period from 2012 to 2015 with a review in 2014. A bonus of 25 points will be allocated to...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Project Maths began in all second level schools in September 2010 for first year students in Junior and Leaving Certificate. The initiative builds on the experiences of 24 project schools which began the programme in 2008. Project Maths is being implemented on a phased basis over a three period across 5 strands of mathematics as follows:- Phase 1: Strand 1 - Statistics and Probability +...

Written Answers — Ceapachán Múinteorí: Ceapachán Múinteorí (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Is mian liom a chur in iúl don Teachta nach gcoinníonn an Roinni staitisticí/eolas ar féidir teacht orthu go héasca faoin líon múinteoirí a ceapadh agus cáilíocht TGMI acu. Níl múinteoirí i dteideal liúntas ar bith as cáilíocht den saghas sin a bheith ina seilbh. Léiríonn an tábla thíos na torthaí a fuair múinteoirí a sheas an scrúdú don Teastas Gaeilge do...

Written Answers — Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge: Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá fúm ceisteanna 50 agus 51 a thógáil le chéile. Foilsíonn mo Roinnse liosta de na hiarbhunscoileanna uile sa tír ar a suíomh gréasáin www.education.ie. Tá iarbhunscoileanna a sholathair oideachas trí mheán na Gaeilge i 2009/2010 do chuid dá ndaltaí nó dóibh go léir aicmighe mar "1" faoi cholún 5 ar an liosta seo. Tá an liosta de an hiarbhunscoileannna a bhfuil rangú...

Traveller Education (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I will send the Deputy the detailed information he requires. We must assess how effective the allocation of resources was in the past in terms of the outcomes. A task to be carried out within the Traveller community and with the support groups for Travellers is to try to convince Traveller parents of the value of education in the first instance. Education starts in the home before young...

Traveller Education (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware that, for historical reasons, in certain towns in certain parts of the country with settled communities there is a large concentration of Travellers, including in parts of the Deputy's constituency. In a sense, the first step for the Traveller community in maximising educational opportunities for their children is to become settled. That has led, by virtue of the location of...

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The programme for Government outlines the Government's priorities over the next five years. It has a strong focus on education and skills and sets an ambitious work programme for me and my Department. My core fundamental priority across all areas of education, from early childhood education to training and higher education, is to improve the education outcomes for all our students. This...

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: We need greater transparency in regard to the schools building programme. Some 75% of all representations to the Department of Education and Skills, under various Ministers, have been from school boards, school committees, worried parents and others as to where they are in the queue. It is my intention to provide more transparency and clarity so people know what is happening. The current...

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I agree with the Deputy and we will try to do that this year.

Programme for Government (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes, it is, and we will have to be innovative in how we do it. Taking Navan as an example, we will have to undertake some type of inventory to ascertain the education infrastructure in the whole of Navan, irrespective of which school has what, and devise an holistic overview so we can maximise the utilisation of those resources for the 21st century rather than the 18th or 19th century when...

Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. To that end, we are committing, during the tenure of this Government, to the publication of a plan for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act...

Special Educational Needs (24 Mar 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I appreciate the Deputy's remarks, and I should have congratulated him on his return to the House earlier. We must find ways to do more with less, that is where we are. If the Deputy has any suggestions in that regard, I would happily entertain them. We are in a new place and I would be misleading Deputy Crowe and every other Member of the House if I suggested otherwise.