Tag Archives: Ruairi Quinn

THE  new Archbishop of Cashel and Emly, Kieran O’Reilly, says the Government should look at innovative ways of safeguarding the future of small rural national schools in Clare. Archbishop O’Reilly, who will remain on as administrator of the Killaloe Diocese until he is installed as Archbishop in Thurles next February, believes the Department of Education should be flexible in its approach to the retention of two-teacher and small rural schools. In an interview with The Clare Champion, he said the Government shouldn’t operate a one-size-fits-all strategy, which may work in the east of the country but would be out of place in the West of Ireland. “The Government has to adapt and adjust to social and demographic realities. I think we must always keep the importance of small rural schools on the agenda. Every voice in a local area must support our education system and the values it hands down to our children. “We all have to keep our eyes very …

THE Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn this Friday officially opened a new school for Ennis National School. The project cost in the region of €6.7 million. The school, at Ashrine, Kilrush Road in Ennis, was provided with a grant from the department and was further funded by the board of management to the tune of approximately €300,0000 to provie a larger general purpose room, changing rooms and the installation of a playing pitch. It is about a mile from the old “Nash” at the Carmody Street/Kilrush Road junjction. Speaking at the school, Minister Quinn said, “I would like to take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to aboard of management, staff, parents and the wider community are all to be congratulated for their hard work which made this new school possible”. Ennis National School has 594 pupils and the new building is a two storey, 32 classroom school, with large hall, changing rooms, and ancillary accommodation on …

THE  National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD) has called on the Department of Education and Skills to undertake an audit of all school’s PE facilities and fitness programmes. This follows a statement from Education Minister Ruairi Quuinn that no audit of PE facilities or resources in post primary schools has taken place, nor are there any plans to carry out such an audit.The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from Deputy Denis Naughten, on whether there are sufficient PE teachers, resources and facilities available in schools and if any audit had been carried out. Commenting on the reply,  Clive Byrne, director of the NAPD said, “I am surprised by the minister’s response to that parliamentary question. Earlier this year a Department of Education and Skills’ ‘Lifeskills’ survey stated that the vast majority of post primary schools are not meeting the recommended time allocation of two hours per week for P.E. The survey also found that more than 90% …