Results 6,101-6,120 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 May 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. The IVEA has recently responded to my invitation to them to submit alternative rationalisation proposals, following their expression of concerns regarding...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of recent steps taken by the Governing Body of Waterford Institute of Technology to commission an external review of spending incurred by the Presidents office at the institute. I understand that this has been considered at a recent meeting of the institute's Governing Body. The Higher Education Authority has now sought a report from the institute on the issues that gave rise to...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The recent Jobs Initiative contains details of over 20,000 additional training, education and work experience places for the unemployed. The majority of the places (15,900) will be delivered through the Department of Education and Skills through the following programmes. 6,000 places on FÁS Specific Skills Training Courses (FÁS) 3,000 places on the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI)...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The two schools to which the Deputy refers have proposed to amalgamate. A site visit was carried out to determine if either school would be suitable to host the amalgamated school and one of the schools was deemed to be suitable. In 2010 the Department approved a devolved grant to provide an extension of four classrooms to facilitate the amalgamation. In March the school Patron advised the...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Prior to the announcement of the Jobs Initiative the Department of Education and Skills was funding in 2011 the provision of 108,500 Training places for the unemployed, 168,000 Further Education places and 156,000 Higher Education places. The recent Jobs Initiative contains details of over 20,000 additional training, education and work experience places for the unemployed. The majority of...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The recent Jobs Initiative contains details of over 20,000 additional training, education and work experience places for the unemployed. The majority of the places (15,900) will be delivered through the Department of Education and Skills through the following programmes. 6,000 places on FÁS Specific Skills Training Courses (FAS) 3,000 places on the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI)...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 46 together. Springboard is the new higher education Fund which is being rolled out for the first time in 2011. The intention to establish a new higher education labour market Fund was announced in December 2010, with proposed funding of €5m in 2011. On the basis of recommendations from an independent expert selection panel received in April 2011,...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The 'Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme' was introduced by FÁS in 2010 to provide work placement opportunities for redundant apprentices to complete their on-the-job training at Phase 3, 5 and 7. The scheme has been broadened in 2011 to include placements with employers in both the private and the public sectors. The scheme, for which €7.3m in funding is being provided, aims to...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The recent Jobs Initiative contains details of over 20,000 additional training, education and work experience places for the unemployed. The majority of the places (15,900) will be delivered through the Department of Education and Skills through the following programmes. 6,000 places on FÁS Specific Skills Training Courses 3,000 places on the Back to Education Initiative BTEI 1,000...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (19 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together. The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. Under section 15 (2) (d) of the Education Act 1998, each school is legally obliged to disclose its enrolment policy and to ensure that as regards that policy that principles of equality and the right of parents to send their...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted a major capital application in November 2010. The application was given a preliminary assessment and was assigned a band 2 rating in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria. Schools are rated band I when they serve a rapidly developing area where either there is no existing school or where existing provision is unable to meet the...

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

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, the school's project was included on the list of projects announced on 24 January 2011 where briefs will be formulated in 2011 and the process of appointing a Design Team will commence. The next steps will be to finalise the Schedules of Accommodation to meet the current and future needs of the school. In this regard, my Department will be in contact with the School...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to clarify for the Deputy that participation in my Department's July Provision Scheme is an option for all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism or severe to profound general learning disability that choose to extend their education services through the month July. Home based tuition of 10 hours per week for the four...

Written Answers — School Management: School Management (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998 the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. It is important that the school management authority requests parents to ensure that the school is made aware of any medical condition suffered by any pupil attending. Where the school is aware of potential difficulties that may arise as a consequence of a...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for capital funding for the provision of a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with published prioritisation criteria for large scale projects and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed applications for major capital works,...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that 96 Primary and Post-Primary schools from Limerick City and County applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme for 2011. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that 40 schools were successful under this year's Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications and,...

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

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is aware of the problems with the school building project to which he refers. My Department is liaising with the Board of Management and their Design Team in relation to next steps.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under my Department's student grant schemes, students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for grants where they satisfy the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to age, residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Details of the 2011/12 student grant scheme are due to become available following publication, which is...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has recently applied to my Department seeking funding to provide additional accommodation. This application is currently being assessed. Officials in my Department will convey a decision on the application to the school authority when the assessment process has been completed.

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

Ruairi Quinn: It is understood that the Deputy's question refers to a proposal for an academy for children with autism which was submitted to my Department for consideration by an organisation in Dublin 13. My Department will respond to the submitted proposal in the near future. The Deputy will be aware that my Department has no direct funding arrangements with the group in question. Consideration of...