Results 7,901-7,920 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The leasing/renting of premises by agencies is the responsibility of individual agencies and is determined by their particular staffing and administrative needs. The information is not generally centrally collated. However, I attach relevant information in relation to the leasing/renting of premises from the private sector by agencies under my Department's aegis. This information was...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: County Westmeath VEC has advised my Department that the annual rent payable on its headquarters premises is €118,300.

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that earlier this year, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The document, "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent. I wish to make clear that the paper was not meant to be prescriptive, nor have any decisions been made as...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume that the Deputy is referring to potential changes to the student grant scheme under Budget 2012. The Deputy will appreciate that as the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the Budget announcement.

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. Ireland must adhere to its agreed economic recovery programme in order to reduce the budget deficit to 3% of GDP by 2015 and to restore our independence. This will mean that forthcoming budgets will involve further adjustments in...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume the Deputy is referring to potential changes to the student grant scheme under budget 2012. The Deputy will appreciate that as the preparation of the Estimates for any budget is carried out on a strictly confidential basis, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the budget announcement.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The person in question is not eligible for the immediate payment of any entitlements in respect of service as a teacher. The person in question retains entitlement to a preserved pension and preserved gratuity which will be payable, on application, when the person concerned reaches the age of 60.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A redundancy application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 17 October 2011. Applications are processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being made to process them as quickly as possible. Applications received in May and June 2011 are currently being processed. Extra resources have been assigned to the Redundancy Unit to ensure that...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (23 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: For the Deputy's information there are two bodies under the aegis of my Department that are classified as companies, namely Léargas Ltd and Skillnets Ltd. Léargas is a not-for-profit organisation that manages European, national and international exchange and cooperation programmes in education, training and youth and community work. Skillnets is a state funded, enterprise-led support body...

Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: That is something we do here.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The person in question has been in contact with officials in my Department in respect of making application for ill health retirement pension benefit. This is a two part process. One form is completed by the applicant and sent with relevant supporting medical evidence to the Occupational Health Service provider and the other form is also completed by the applicant and sent to my Department....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. In January of this year, my Department issued authorisation to the school and its design team to complete stage 2(b) of architectural planning. Upon completion of Stage 2(b) the Design Team will submit the required documentation to my Department. When this has been...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Redundancy applications from Special Needs Assistants are processed by my Department in date order of receipt and every effort is being made to process these applications as quickly as possible. Applications received in June 2011 are currently being processed. Extra resources have been assigned to the Redundancy Unit to ensure that Special Needs Assistants that have been made redundant will...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers had applied to my Department seeking funding to replace temporary accommodation in the school. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government's Medium Term Infrastructure and Capital Investment Framework, which was published on 10th November 2011, sets out the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. Given the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. This is a very stark reality, which, unfortunately, means that changes to any public service provision, including the student grant scheme, cannot be ruled out. I empathise with students and I am very conscious of the played by the...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department makes provision for car parking spaces within the vested school site in the context of general school design. The level of provision may depend on the particular school project, the site conditions prevailing and the requirements of Local Authorities. Individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the safety and welfare of children and others...

Written Answers — Construction Contracts: Construction Contracts (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The details of major school building projects which commenced since 2008 involving the company to which the Deputy refers are contained in the attached document. Contractual disputes can and do occur on a proportion of all building projects. When these arise there are informal procedures, in addition to formal procedures within the contract, to deal with such disputes. Most of the projects on...

Written Answers — Higher Education Awards: Higher Education Awards (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the matter referred to by the Deputy arose out of issues with the assessment leading to the award. Under the Qualifications (Education and Training) Act, 1999, the conduct of assessment and issuing of awards are matters for the institution concerned and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council.

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, supervising the examinations, making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination and determining procedure to enable the review and appeal of results of examinations at the request of candidates....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (24 Nov 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Following discussions with the second level management bodies I have, in the last week, published an information note on the subject of re-employment of retiring teachers of post-primary examination classes. These measures will be confined to teachers teaching State examination classes in post-primary schools and do not apply to teachers with no exam classes or to primary school teachers....