Results 6,161-6,180 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As part of the expansion of the Permanent Accommodation Scheme 2007, a grant was allocated to the school in question to enable the management authority provide 3 additional mainstream classrooms. As this is a devolved scheme it is a matter for the school authority to manage the project. I understand that some difficulties arose between the school authority, the design team and the contractor...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: An application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for Fire Safety Upgrade works has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. The purpose of the Emergency Works Scheme is solely for unforeseen emergencies or to provide funding to facilitate inclusion and access for special needs pupils. The school in question has already received a substantial grant under the Capital...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the changes to the student grant schemes introduced under Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fail - Green Party government were designed to manage additional cost pressures arising from a significant increase in the number of students qualifying for grants, a proportionate increase in the number of students qualifying for higher rates of grants and payment of the Student...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Section 31.22 of the ten year Framework Social Partnership Agreement 2006 - 2015 "Towards 2016" provided that all payments to teachers would be made electronically by the end of 2006 at the latest. In November 2006 teachers paid on payrolls operated by my Department and paid by means of payable order were requested to submit bank account details to enable payment directly to their bank...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Programme for Government clearly states 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 will endeavour to protect frontline services in education. The Deputy will be aware that it is necessary to ensure that...

Written Answers — Expenditure Reviews: Expenditure Reviews (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I take it that the Deputy's question relates to this school in the context of the value for money review on small schools which is under way at present. The value for money review on small schools is part of the normal review processes undertaken by all Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure and is being conducted in line with the standard procedure for value for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 3.1 rating. Information in respect of the current school building programme along with all assessed...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2011)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department provides a Remote Area Boarding Grant for pupils who are educationally disadvantaged, because of their remoteness from schools, in order to provide an opportunity for them to attend school on the same basis as other pupils not so disadvantaged. Grants are paid for pupils whose normal place of residence is outside the range of public transport services to a school providing...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy was approved funding for 2 mainstream classrooms in 2010 to meet its accommodation needs. My Department has no record of having received correspondence from the school relating to the matter contained in the details supplied by the Deputy. Any correspondence received will be considered and a response will be provided to the school.

Written Answers — School Provision: School Provision (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has recently announced plans to open at least 13 new post-primary schools over the next five years in the following locations - Gorey, Doughiska (Galway), Lucan (Clonburris), Kingscourt, Ashbourne, Mulhuddart, Blanchardstown West, Drogheda, Claregalway, Maynooth, Naas, Navan and North County Dublin/South County Louth. The Forward Planning Section of my Department is currently...

Written Answers — Schools Amalgamation: Schools Amalgamation (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Stage 1 submission which incorporates Preliminary Design was received on 9th May and is currently being reviewed by my Department. Subject to no issues arising in relation to the stage 1 submission it is envisaged that the project will thereafter advance to completion...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 42 Primary Schools and 10 Post Primary Schools in County Kilkenny were allocated funding under my Department's Water Conservation Scheme. The Management Authorities of the schools in question were informed of the terms and conditions of the scheme in an approval letter issued in October 2010. To date 29 schools have drawn down funding under the scheme and the balance of funding allocated...

Written Answers — Library Projects: Library Projects (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Junior Certificate Schools Programme (JCSP) includes a Demonstration Library Project. This project establishes high quality, fully stocked and equipped modern school libraries and provides each with a professional librarian. There are 31 Librarians working with this project and I am pleased to say that all of these Librarians will be retained for a further academic year 2011/2012. The...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision to withdraw Resource Teacher for Travellers (RTT) was taken by the previous Government as part of the last budget. The requirement to make expenditure savings and to ensure that staffing numbers remain within the Public Service Employment Control Framework prevent me from re-visiting this decision. Resource Teacher for Traveller posts-Teaching...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision to withdraw Resource Teacher for Travellers (RTT) was taken by the previous Government as part of the last budget. The requirement to make expenditure savings and to ensure that staffing numbers remain within the Public Service Employment Control Framework prevent me from re-visiting this decision. Resource Teacher for Traveller posts-Teaching...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Early Start Programme which was launched in 1994-95 is a targeted intervention for preschool children at risk of educational disadvantage. The Early Start units are located in Primary Schools and while my Department is supporting an Early Start unit in Ballymun, it is not located in Trinity Comprehensive, Main Street, Ballymun. If the Deputy could forward the roll number of the school...

Written Answers — Preschool Services: Preschool Services (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Early Start Programme which was launched in 1994-95 is a targeted intervention for preschool children at risk of educational disadvantage. The Early Start units are located in Primary Schools and while my Department is supporting Early Start units in Finglas, they are not located in St Joseph's Girls School. If the Deputy could forward the roll number of the school or further...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs. In particular, its network of Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) co-ordinates special needs education provision at local level and arranges for the delivery of...

Written Answers — Psychological Service: Psychological Service (26 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware all primary and post-primary schools have access to psychological assessments either directly through the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) or through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Schools that do not currently have NEPS psychologists assigned to them may avail of the SCPA, whereby the school can have an assessment...