Results 5,781-5,800 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Enrolment: School Enrolment (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, approval was recently given for a new primary school under the patronage of Educate Together in the area concerned to open in September 2011. This is to be followed by the opening of a new gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta in September 2012. The combination of the two new schools will cater for the increased demographics of the area...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The purpose of the redeployment arrangements is to redeploy a teacher who is surplus in one school to a vacancy in another school. The redeployment arrangements are not designed to facilitate voluntary transfers between schools.

Written Answers — School Enrolment: School Enrolment (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The compulsory school starting age in a National School is 6 years of age. The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at advanced tender stage. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that the project will proceed to construction in the coming months.

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As far as the training activities of FÁS and the VECs are concerned, I am currently reviewing options regarding the provision of further education and training and the structures to support it.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A major project for the school referred to by the Deputy 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. A new school will be provided for the school in question. Officials from my Department were in contact with the school...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have asked the State Examinations Commission to forward the information requested directly to the Deputy. As the records are not in electronic form for this period, the information will take some time to assemble.

Written Answers — Training and Work Experience Programmes: Training and Work Experience Programmes (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government contains proposals to support a Jobs Initiative which will provide additional places in training, work experience and educational opportunities for those who are out of work. This will include an Internship Scheme. Further details regarding the Jobs Initiative and an Internship Scheme will be announced shortly by the Government. Already in existence as a means...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The most recent projections produced by my Department are forecasting an increase in the projected enrolments at primary level in the coming years. It is within this context that the Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of analysing all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional provision which will be required at both primary and post primary...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (20 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Since the publication of the Commission on School Accommodation Area Development Plan for the N4/M4 Area report in 2005, my Department has continued to analyse demographic data to identify the areas in the country where, due to demographic changes, there may be a requirement for significant additional school provision at both primary and post-primary levels over the coming years. This study...

Order of Business (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Deputy Higgins should stick to the script.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts, including temporary posts, takes place in the context of the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland and the Public Service Agreement 2010/2014. It is necessary for my Department to exercise additional control and reporting measures this year to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The previous Government decided to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16 and on the merger of particular counties. I am anxious to ensure that progress continues to be made in the work on bringing about a reduction in the number of VECs. I have recently extended an invitation to the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) to submit alternative rationalisation proposals, following...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teaching hours to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. In respect of the allocation of Resource...

Written Answers — Schools Funding: Schools Funding (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The temporary accommodation solution referred to by the Deputy was procured by the Board of Management of Scoil Chonaill and my Department meets the rental costs for the period. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that it is envisaged that the building project at Scoil Chonaill should be completed in the third quarter of 2011. With regard to water charges for schools, the Deputy will be aware...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that it is not possible to give a derogation to any individual school in relation to the requirements of Circular 67/2010. The rationale for this circular was to maximise the opportunities for the redeployment of surplus permanent teachers. The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for 2011/2012 and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching posts, including...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a value for money 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 review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure. I have no predetermined...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, currently under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Schemes the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved higher education institution. The main conditions of the scheme are that students must be first-time...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for a new mainstream classroom to replace an existing classroom. The application was considered and the school was advised that it was not possible to grant aid the application. A letter to this effect has issued to the school. The capital budget allocated to my Department has been reduced this year and...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Following the commencement on 1 January 2011 of the relevant sections of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2010, the Department of Social Protection assumed the funding and overall responsibility for FÁS employment services and employment programmes. My Department has retained the funding and overall responsibility for the remaining functions of FÁS, including the provision...