Results 6,521-6,540 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: On foot of a request from my Department the Office of Public Works identified a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. However given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this point in time. The acquisition of the site and the delivery of the school building project will be considered in the context of...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Under the terms of my Department's Free Fee Scheme 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 undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss...

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: We want to deliver it.

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: They were in office for 14 years.

Order of Business (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: He took the money instead.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 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 — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Circular 30/2011 sets out the interim arrangements to apply for the 2011/12 school year for Learning Support/Resource Teacher and Resource Teacher posts. The purpose of this circular is to inform schools of the interim arrangements that are being put in place for the 2011 /12 school year in respect of their NCSE approved resource hours and learning support hours so that posts are deployed in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a student's grant awarding body. The Deputy will appreciate that, in the absence of the all of the relevant details contained in an application form, it is not possible for me to say if a candidate qualifies for a grant. However, students who are attending undergraduate courses in an EU Member State, which appears to be what the...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A review of the criteria and procedures for the establishment of new primary schools has been undertaken by the Commission on School Accommodation and its report was recently published on my Department's website. The report's recommendations and proposals are a useful contribution to the deliberations of the recently established Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector. The...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My officials are aware of the issues which have arisen in relation to this school building project and are liaising with the Board of Management and the Design team in relation to next steps. It is not possible at this stage to give an indicative timeline for the progression of the project; however my priority is to ensure that the project will be completed as soon as possible. The contract...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department acquired 9.63 hectares of land for educational purposes in 2010 in the area to which he refers. This was in addition to land previously acquired in the area for educational purposes. Due to commercial sensitivities pertaining to site acquisitions generally it is not my Department's policy to provide details of the purchase cost of sites...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is in the process of finalising its analysis of enrolments at primary and post-primary level in all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional school provision which will be required at both levels up to 2017. The accommodation requirements in the area to which the Deputy refers, including the future use of the temporary post primary school, will be...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: It is not the case that people who have participated in FÁS training programmes are precluded from applying for a Springboard programme. To be eligible for a place on a Springboard course applicants must have been unemployed for a minimum of 6 months when the course starts. At the time of starting a Springboard course an applicant also must be in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance,...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 83 together. No decision has been made in relation to the next phase of providing 100Mbps to schools. Any decision to extend the programme will be made having regard to the current budgetary constraints and other priorities of my Department. The National Centre for Technology in Education is currently in the process of completing a pedagogical review...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Applications under my Department's Summer Works and Emergency Works Schemes to upgrade the school's Home Economics Room have 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. An emergency is deemed to be a situation which...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have forwarded...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 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 — Teacher Training: Teacher Training (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) was established in September 2010, following a reconfiguration of the support services in existence prior to that date. 2011 is the first full year of operation of the PDST. In allocating budgets to education centres for the administration of PDST strands my Department aims to ensure that the funding allocated is commensurate with the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy is aware that the home tuition scheme provides a grant to parents to facilitate the provision of education at home for children who, for a number of reasons such as for pupils who are awaiting a suitable educational placement. As I have already clarified for the Deputy, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are currently 6 (4.8 wte*) staff currently working in the North/South Co-operation Unit of my Department. In addition, the unit is currently holding 2 vacancies. The filling of these vacancies will be considered in light of current staffing constraints and the business needs of the Unit. The grade breakdown of these staff is as follows: - 1 (1 wte) Principal Officer (also undertaking...