Results 7,241-7,260 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are a number of measures currently being undertaken to prepare second level students for future employment and careers. At Junior Cycle, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) was asked to review the junior certificate and advise on the scope for reform which would provide for a more active learning experience for students, the promotion of real understanding,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Due to changes in the structure of the Vote for my Department over the period 2007-2011, total Education Expenditure for each of the years in question is not readily comparable. These changes include: The transfer out of the Education and Science Vote from 1 January 2009 of funding responsibility for various functions in relation to Youth Organisations and Youth Activities to the Office of...

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Mock examinations are not part of the State examinations system. The decision to organise and/or charge for mock examinations is made at school level, and my Department does not have a role in the matter. Schools are provided with capitation and school services grants to meet their running costs. Post-primary schools receive school services grant of €201 per pupil plus a capitation grant...

Written Answers — Health and Safety Regulations: Health and Safety Regulations (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: When a school authority receives funding from my Department to carry out refurbishment works to their school building, they are advised of their responsibilities as Client for the project under the Safety Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the Safety Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations, Statutory Instrument (S.I.) 504 of 2006. In particular school authorities are...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Grant support is not available to students pursuing post-graduate courses outside of the island of Ireland. However, Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2011, provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for this school was included in the list of projects announced in January of this year to "Complete Tender Documents and Expected to Tender in 2011". The design team are currently working on stage 2(b) of architectural planning which includes the application for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate (DAC) and the preparation of...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grant scheme includes provision for grants to eligible students pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in publicly-funded institutions in other EU Member States. The student grant scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by local grant awarding authorities - local authorities and VECs - and students should apply to the grant awarding...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for this school was listed in the School Building Works Programme announced on 24th January 2011 to commence the design team appointment process this year. The brief and schedule of accommodation has been prepared. It is anticipated that officials from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities shortly to commence the tender process for the appointment...

Written Answers — FÁS Training Programmes: FÁS Training Programmes (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: To be eligible for a place on a Springboard course an applicant must have a previous history of employment, and at the time of starting a Springboard course must be unemployed and in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit or One Parent Family Payment or be signing for contribution credits. All applicants must be available for and actively seeking employment. In order to...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together. Until 31st December 2010, a grant system operated which allowed the managerial authorities of special schools to claim from my Department the funding required to pay part-time specialist subject teachers employed in their schools. The teachers were paid by the managerial authorities. With effect from the 1st January this year, part-time...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Part-time programmes are not eligible for support under the student grant or free fees scheme. However, tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, is available on third-level tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved higher education institutions including certain approved undergraduate courses in E.U. member states and approved postgraduate courses in E.U. member states and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has provided an allocation of €138,847 to the Rehabilitation and Support Programme (RASP) in 2011 which is equal to its allocation in 2010. A decision regarding the provision of an allocation to the project in 2012 will be taken in the context of the overall budgetary process for 2012.

Written Answers — Schools Building Programmes: Schools Building Programmes (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy was included for appointment of a design team in the announcement in January of the school building works programme for 2011. My Department is in the process of acquiring a site close to the current location of the school. The next step will be the appointment of a design team to design the new school building. It is my Departments intention to have the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As there is a total of 636 staff at Higher Executive officer to Secretary General (and equivalents) in my Department I trust the Deputy will appreciate that to provide a list of the current pay of each individual and calculate their individual retirement entitlements in the format requested would take an inordinate amount of official time to compile. Pension and gratuity benefits are...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that policy can be expressed and manifested through a variety of forms. Explicitly, it is communicated via legislation, regulations, rulings, orders, plans, strategies, policy statements, and other forms – or through a combination of these. Therefore the Deputy will appreciate that specific policies and objectives are not always articulated in just one document. My...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware the centre to which he has referred submitted a proposal for an academy for children with autism to my Department for consideration. My Department took a decision not to provide funding to support the centre as the proposal submitted was not in line with my Department's policy on educational provision for children with autism. My Department had no direct funding...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A major project for the school to which the Deputy refers was included on the work programme for 2011, which was announced on 24 January 2011. The project brief has now been agreed with the School Management. The next stage involves the appointment of a Design Team and this process is expected to commence shortly. All large scale building projects, including this project, will be considered...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the student grant measures announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil - Green Party Government began to come into effect from January this year when a reduction of 4% in the rates of grant was applied to all student grant recipients. In addition, from September 2011 the assessment of the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant...

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A Strategy Statement has been submitted to the Minister for consideration and will be published in due course.

Written Answers — School Properties: School Properties (27 Sep 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my intention to lease the entire former community school site referred to by the Deputy, including the sports complex, to the City of Dublin VEC. My Department has requested the VEC to ensure that the club referred to by the Deputy is given use of the facility following execution of the lease. I understand that the VEC has already presented a draft...