Results 8,041-8,060 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 18 together. Applications have been received from 7 primary and 1 post primary school in County Kerry for new school buildings. Details are attached for the Deputy's convenience. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including those in Co Kerry, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information as requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department. It would take a significant investment of IT and other staffing resources to obtain this information. It is not possible given that the resource priorities must be allocated to ensuring the payment of teaching and non teaching staff on payrolls operated by my Department to provide this information.

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

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Student Grant Scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year in duration pursued in an approved institution. Part-time programmes are not eligible for support under the Student Grant or Free Fees schemes. However, tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, is...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (7 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Earlier this year, following the approval of the Government, I referred the General Scheme of an Education and Training Boards Bill to the Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education. This Bill is a substantial piece of legislation which will consolidate the existing nine Vocational Education Acts and will reflect the enhanced future role of the Sector. The Bill provides for...

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

Ruairi Quinn: My Department was recently advised by the Patron's office for the school referred to by the Deputy that it was the Patron's intention to close the school with immediate effect. The Patron's office confirmed that this decision was taken as a result of demographic changes in the area and that demand no longer exists to support the viability of the school. Following confirmation of the Patron's...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (7 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As you will be aware from the budget announcements, there is no increase in the general average of 28:1 for the allocation of classroom teachers at primary level. However, the staffing arrangements in schools for the 2012/13 school year can also be affected by changes in their enrolment, the impact of other budget measures and the reforms to the teacher allocation process. The reform of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (7 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is currently considering the application referred to by the Deputy and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as this process has been completed.

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (8 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: An application for redundancy from the person referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department on 4th July 2011. Applications are processed in date order of receipt and every effort is being made to process these applications as quickly as possible. Applications received in June / July 2011 are currently being processed and it is anticipated that Ms. Calvey will receive her redundancy...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (8 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: While difficult choices had to be made to identify savings across my Department's budget, the Government has tried to protect front line services in 2012. The Government has protected the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level, prioritised targeted support for the most disadvantaged schools and maintained the overall number of resource teachers and SNAs to support children with special needs....

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides a range of supports for pupils with dyslexia. In mainstream primary schools, support is provided through the General Allocation Model (GAM). The GAM was introduced in September 2005 and ensures that mainstream primary schools have the additional teaching resources already in place to enable them cater for children with high-incidence...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the membership of the Agency and individual attendance at meetings is outlined in the following table: Title First Name Surname Appointed Current Term Expires Number of meetings attended Mr Bob Coggins May 2010 November 2012 15 Cllr Emer Costello May 2010 November 2012 14 Dr Dominic Dillane May 2010 November 2012 12 Mr John...

Order of Business (9 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: What about the way the Deputy signed the bank bailout by telephone in the middle of the night?

Departmental Properties (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position in regard to the funding of the Piper's Hill Educational Campus in Naas, County Kildare. As the Deputy is aware, there has been a significant increase in the number of schoolgoing children in the country in recent years. My Department is forecasting that this will increase...

Departmental Properties (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are lessons to be learned from what has happened in this case. I thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to outline to the House the current position regarding the payment of funds. It would have been preferable if the original sale had gone ahead. In the circumstances in which we now find ourselves, we have to learn from the experience of this case and make sure similar...

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A key priority for my Department is to continue to prioritise and target funding at schools with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. However, in order to ensure fairness in the distribution of resources available under the DEIS plan, it is no longer possible to allow some schools to retain legacy posts on a concessionary basis that pre-date the introduction of the DEIS...

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I have visited DEIS band 1 and band 2 schools. There are some in my constituency which is an inner city one and not just all Dublin 4. There have been inequalities between various DEIS schools with some getting fewer resources than others that were previously identified as having a disadvantage and subsequently re-branded as DEIS schools. The...

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I know Deputy McDonald does not like it.

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: No, we are not. We are trying to be as fair as possible on this.

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: It is. The fairest way to start is to ensure disadvantage is treated equally.