Results 5,601-5,620 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department understands that the candidate in question applied to his grant awarding authority for a student grant and that the income in his case exceeded the reckonable income limits for the award of a grant. Where a grant application is refused, the reason for the refusal is given by the grant awarding authority. An applicant may appeal the decision to the relevant local authority or...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A review was initiated in October 2010 by the then Fianna Fáil/Green Party government in order to establish the value for money being achieved from state funding of small primary schools. This value for money review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure. All primary schools with a total enrolment of less than 50...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 165 together. I wish to advise the Deputies that a proposal for an academy for children with autism has been received by officials in my Department who will revert to the organisation in question shortly. However it is important to emphasise that the proposal will be considered in the context of my Department's policy in this regard. My Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In the 1996/1997 school year there were 106 Gaelscoileanna at primary level with a total enrolment of 17,447 pupils on 30 September 1996. In the 2009/2010 school year there were 147 Gaelscoileanna at primary level with a total enrolment of 29,024 pupils on 30 September 2009. Note that these figures refer to all-Irish primary schools and pupils located outside the Gaeltacht areas.

Written Answers — School Holidays: School Holidays (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The scheduling of school holiday periods during the academic year is agreed between the education partners under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. The Teachers Conciliation Council is the recognised forum for dealing with matters relating to pay and conditions of service of teachers. The parties to the forum include representatives of the managerial authorities of schools,...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: On 2/02/2011 an appeal was received by my Department from the candidate in question to review the decision of her grant awarding authority not to award a student grant. The grant awarding authority had taken this decision because the reckonable income limits for student grant eligibility were exceeded. The appeal was examined in detail by my Department and a decision issued to the candidate...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The tender process for the appointment of a Design Team on the school building project referred to by the Deputy is in progress. The first stage of the process to pre-qualify suitable consultants is complete. The next stage of the process, which will commence shortly, will be to issue the invitations to the pre-qualified consultants to tender for the selection and appointment of the design team.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I recently announced that 453 primary and post primary schools across the country will receive funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Approval letters have been issued to all successful schools and details are also available on my Department's website www.education.ie. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Support for students attending full-time third level education is provided by way of the Department's student grant schemes. Under the schemes, qualifying students may receive full support for fees and the Student Contribution as well as assistance towards maintenance. To establish eligibility for a grant, a student should apply to the grant awarding authority in the area where he/she...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers in primary schools is published annually on my Department's website. In terms of the provision at individual school level the key factor for determining the level of resources provided by my Department is the pupil enrolment at the 30 September of each year. It is open to the school to apply for developing school status as set out in the...

Written Answers — School Relocation: School Relocation (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers have been communicating with my Department regarding the school's proposal to re-locate to a new premises. Additional information and clarifications were requested from the school authority in February 2011. When this information has been received, the matter will be considered further and a decision on the matter will issue to the...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume the Deputy is referring to Circular 19/2011 which commences the redeployment process for surplus permanent teachers at primary level. This circular, which is available on my Department's website sets out the detailed arrangements for the operation of the redeployment process. The redeployment panels that have now been published give priority to surplus permanent teachers.No schools...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government is committed to supporting the overall thrust of 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030, and to the delivery of the goals and targets proposed. As part of this, a thorough reform of the Irish curriculum and the way Irish is taught at primary and second level will be undertaken. The priority is to take steps to improve the quality and effectiveness of the teaching of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The main focus in Teacher Allocation Section within my Department at present is the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers into vacancies. The Department will consider queries in relation to supplementary panel rights for fixed-term teachers, including the teacher referred to by the Deputy, when the initial work on panels for redeployment of surplus permanent teachers is completed.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The main focus in Teacher Allocation Section within my Department at present is the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers into vacancies. The Department will consider queries in relation to supplementary panel rights for fixed-term teachers, including the teacher referred to by the Deputy, when the initial work on panels for redeployment of surplus permanent teachers is completed.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to be able to confirm to the Deputy that a major project for the school to which he refers was included on the list of projects on the work programme for 2011, which was announced on 24 January 2011, where briefs will be formulated in 2011 and the process of appointing a Design Team will commence. In order to progress this matter further, the Department is in the first instance...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 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, for which additional land will be required. 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...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for the development of an outdoor multi-purpose fenced play space under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has completed the acquisition of a site for the provision of a new post-primary school building in County Meath. A proposal to construct a new school building was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects used by my Department and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for works under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories were prioritised and it was...