Results 8,061-8,080 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: It has not been the case that disadvantage was treated equally. Former Ministers attempted to equalise the allocation of scarce resources but it was not done because of the sorts of arguments made now. I will examine carefully how these measures are implemented. I will discuss with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, how we can combine the home school...

Educational Disadvantage (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: -----of the kind to which I have referred. That is how we will deal with this.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware the website referred to was created by Ordinance Survey Ireland (OSI) and Twelve Horses (a digital agency specialising in online services) and therefore is not under the remit of my Department. My Department has been in contact with both the CSO and OSI in relation to the specific education provision information that it will be making available to the operators of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. Since I took office I have appointed 2 Special Advisers, a Personal Assistant and a Personal Secretary in accordance with the revised conditions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance on the 24th, March 2011. The Minister of State at my Department has similarly appointed a Personal Secretary and Personal...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The table details the number of student grant applications, both new and renewals, that were deemed ineligible for a grant by the 66 grant awarding authorities for the 2010/2011 academic year. The information has been supplied to my Department by the grant awarding authorities – local authorities and VECs - as at 21st January 2011. Refusals by Awarding Authority for 2010/11 Academic...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 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 — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grant scheme does not extend to third level courses pursued outside the EU. The student to which the Deputy refers may, however, be eligible for tax relief for his tuition fees. Details in relation to this are available from the applicant's local tax office or on www.revenue.ie.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This case was reviewed by my Department and it issued its decision on 8 December 2011. The delay was due to the complexity of the case.

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have asked my officials to conduct an analysis of the potential extent and nature of the Exchequer investment, including funding for teacher posts, in the fee-charging schools. The specific analysis to be conducted by my Department will involve looking at the level of the tuition fee income based on fee rates and pupil numbers. It will take account of Exchequer investment foregone (in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Given the scale of our economic crisis, adjustments have had to be made across all areas of the public sector. Despite this challenge, the Government has sought to do this in as fair a way as possible. We have 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...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department have been in discussions with Co. Wicklow VEC regarding a permanent site for the school to which he refers. However, given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. The acquisition of a site and the delivery of the school building project will be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 139, 142, 168 to 170, inclusive together. As part of the Budget decisions announced last week, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a teaching post in small primary schools will be gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. The schools concerned are those with four or less classroom teachers. The pupil thresholds for...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 119, inclusive, together. While there is no basis in law, catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960's and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes the country was divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...

Written Answers — National Qualifications Authority of Ireland: National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The functions of the body referred to by the Deputy have been subsumed into the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) since January 2010 and the board is in the process of winding up. In line with normal practice, the board included providers of English language education and training, in the form of representatives of Marketing English in Ireland, along with a range of...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 149 and 164 together. The Statistics section of my Department's website contains class size data at individual primary school level in county order for the 2010/2011 school year. The source of this data is the National School Annual Census. Statistical information in respect of the current school year is currently being compiled in my Department and is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Applications have been received from 31 primary schools in Co Kerry for school extensions. In addition, applications have been received from a further 7 primary schools for new replacement school buildings Details of the schools concerned are attached for the Deputy's information. The current status of all projects on the school building programme, including those in County Kerry, may be...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos 127 and 128 together. Major applications have been received from 38 primary schools and 11 post primary schools in Co Kerry for extension projects or replacement of accommodation. In some cases school applications may involve, without specific reference, the replacement of some or all of the school's existing prefabricated accommodation, both rented and owned....

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to Primary schools in County Kerry that applied for an Emergency Works Grant in 2011 is outlined in the following table: Roll School Status 10501E Asdee NS, Listowel approved 12832O Scoil Mhuire, Killorglin approved 16917T Scoil Naomh Padraig Measc, Caherleahan approved 19487M Holy Cross Mercy NS approved 18705O Scoil Naisiunta...

Written Answers — Schools Building Programme: Schools Building Programme (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to Post Primary schools in County Kerry that applied for an Emergency Works Grant in 2011 is outlined in the following table: Roll School Status 61320M St. Brendan's College, Killarney approved 61370E St Michael's College, Listowel approved 81006S Tarbert Comprehensive School approved 76068N Colaiste na Sceilge, Cahirciveen approved...