Results 6,241-6,260 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Jun 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...

Written Answers — School Fees: School Fees (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The charging of fees by a school is permissible only in the case of recognised fee-charging second level schools. All other recognised schools are precluded from charging school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in such recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Data relating to expenditure by my Department are not maintained on a county by county basis and it would take an inordinate amount of time to collate the information sought by the Deputy. However, I would be happy to provide information on specific projects the Deputy has a particular interest in.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2011-2012 school year was published on my...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from FÁS that the person in question was placed on the Redundant Apprentice Placement Scheme with PSE Power Systems in Newcastle West, on Monday, 23 May, 2011. FÁS has also informed my Department that for the 12 weeks' duration of the placement, the apprentice will receive a FÁS net weekly training allowance of €400.00.

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government gives a commitment to move towards a more pluralist system of patronage at second level, recognising a wider number of patrons. In line with this policy on Saturday 28 May at the Educate Together AGM I confirmed the Government's view that Educate Together meets all the requirements to operate as a patron of a second-level school. I intend to prioritise the...

Written Answers — Skills Development: Skills Development (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. A stage 1 submission was recently received from the design team and is currently being reviewed by my Department. When that review is complete my Department will revert to the VEC regarding the further progression of the project. The progression of all large scale building...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (2 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department funds adult and community education through annual grants to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) which deliver these courses locally. The disbursement of funds is a matter for each VEC which, subject to its budget, decides the nature and extent of the adult and community education courses to be provided in its area. The organisation and location of courses are also matters...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: From September 2010, all new applicants who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance are ineligible for the maintenance element of the student grant. However, the cost of the student contribution and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met, for eligible students, by the Exchequer on their behalf. Students should apply to their local grant awarding authority, i.e. their...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Jun 2011)

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

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The position is that where undergraduate students do not meet the eligibility criteria of the free fees schemes, it is the higher education institution concerned that determines, in accordance with its criteria, the appropriate tuition fee payable by students. It would be advisable for the student to contact the college she hopes to study in to receive clarification on which fee rate they...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy was allocated devolved funding for the provision of a mainstream classroom under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme in 2010. The school authorities subsequently sought additional funding towards this building project. My Department sought further clarification from the school in relation to the application for additional funding and this...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jun 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 teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This now...

Written Answers — School Services Staff: School Services Staff (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The public service pensions-related deduction applies to public servants working in public service bodies who contribute to a pension scheme, or who receive a payment in lieu of such a contribution. Employees who do not contribute to a public service pension scheme are not subject to the public service pensions-related deduction.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A letter setting out the background and the details of the redundancy payment issued to the person referred to by the Deputy on 6 May. The issues raised in the details supplied with the Parliamentary Question are being examined by my Department and a response will issue directly to the person.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with normal practice for settlements of this type and to protect the commercial interests of the parties involved, the settlement agreement contained a confidentiality clause. The settlement agreement was negotiated between the parties with legal advice and involved a number of claims and counterclaims on each side. As a result the outstanding amounts due by both parties were in...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes the allocation of resource teaching hours to schools as well as the establishment of special classes...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Legally, the entry criteria for programmes of higher education are matters for decision by the institutions themselves. I have asked the higher education interests to examine the scope of reform of the CAO points system to address some of the negative effects on students' learning in senior cycle. I look forward with interest to the debate on this important area.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (7 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating special needs resources to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. The NCSE will continue to support schools,...