Results 7,561-7,580 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

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

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority - local authority or VEC. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to nationality, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 children to a school of the parents choice are...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that an appeal from the candidate in question was received in the Higher Education – Equity of Access Section of my Department on 25th October, 2011. This appeal is currently under consideration, and an appeal reply will be issued directly to the candidate as soon as this process is complete.

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department was advised that meetings were recently held between the City of Dublin VEC and the KUBS Basketball Club to discuss the draft user agreement which recognises the Club's current position as a user of the sports facility outside of school hours. On that basis the appointment of an independent mediator is not necessary at this stage.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought by the Deputy is being collated and will be forwarded as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together. The Deputy may be aware that the project to which he refers was tendered in 2009 and a preferred bidder was identified to do the works. Unfortunately a number of issues outside of my Department's control delayed the progression of this project. However, I am pleased to inform you that most of these issues have now been resolved. Provided...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department provides grant of €13,842 per annum to the school to which he refers for the rental of one classroom.

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. A list of 453 successful schools was announced on 30 March 2011. Applications from schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised under the Summer Works Scheme funding this year and I regret that the application made by the school in question was not selected. A...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: All works to be allocated funding under my Department's Devolved Schemes must be offered to the market in accordance with EU and National procurement guidelines. This includes the Additional Accommodation Scheme which allows school management authorities to carry out building or improvement works to their schools. School management authorities must comply with all the requirements of...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Following detailed consultation between the Irish universities and the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) in the context of the ongoing process of implementing the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), the universities have agreed that the initial post-primary teaching qualification, hitherto known as the Higher Diploma in Education and latterly as the Graduate or...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Section 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal by a parent or guardian to the Secretary General of my Department, or in the case of a Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) school to the VEC in the first instance, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school, expels a student or suspends a student for...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Schools have been informed that they are not to enter into commitments in expectation of the issuing of the primary school minor works grant in the current school year (2011/12). The decision regarding the payment of the grant is likely to be taken in the near future.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (2 Nov 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 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 — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 75 and 94 together. In determining Mullingar as a headquarter location, I was aware that both Co Westmeath and Co Longford VECs are very closely matched. However, I am satisfied that geographically Mullingar is the most favourable location for the headquarters. I expect that headquarters staff of Co Longford VEC will move to the designated headquarters...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for large scale capital funding for a new school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale capital projects and has been assigned a Band 1.3 rating. The progression of all large scale building projects, including a project for this school, from...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed that the student referred to by the Deputy has made an application to Longford County Council under the Student Grant Scheme. A letter issued from that body on 25th October 2011, seeking further documentation from the applicant. In the circumstances, it will be necessary for the student in question to contact his grant awarding authority to...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The eligibility of an applicant, or the level of the grant awarded, may be re-assessed by the awarding authority in the event of a change of circumstances in the academic year. The applicant should in the first instance contact the relevant awarding body and notify them of the change in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The processing of student grants is carried out by local grant awarding authorities – VECs and local authorities. In the circumstances, it will be necessary for the student in question to contact his grant awarding authority to ascertain the position regarding his grant application.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (2 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together. In arriving at my decision in relation to the location of headquarters of the merged VECs, I considered a range of factors including the need to ensure that the location of a VEC headquarters will, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate staff redeployment under a redeployment scheme within the context of the Croke Park Agreement and...