Results 8,861-8,880 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March 2011, the Government agreed new measures for Cabinet Ministers in relation to the provision of official transport to take effect from 1 May 2011. On my appointment as Minister from 9 March 2011 until 30 April 2011, I was provided with a State car. Since 1 May 2011, in line with the revised procedures, I have used my own car. I am provided with the services of two civilian drivers...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A redundancy application from the person referred to by the Deputy was received on 9 August 2011 and has now been reached for processing. Some outstanding documentation is being requested from the school concerned. As soon as this has been received, the application will be processed and payment will issue as quickly as possible. Every effort is being made to process SNA redundancy...

Written Answers — Institutes of Technology: Institutes of Technology (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: On Monday, 13 February last, the Higher Education Authority published a number of documents intended to provide a broad framework for future system development in Irish higher education, including a clear four-stage process and criteria for designation as a technological university. Groups of institutions proposing to merge and apply for designation as technological universities will need to...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the position in relation to this matter is as set out to him in my reply of 31st January, 2012. 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...

Written Answers — Third Level Education: Third Level Education (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: On Monday 13th February, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) published a number of documents intended to provide a broad framework for future system development in Irish higher education. All institutions have now been invited to identify their key strengths and their future strategic fit within the system and submit a realistic plan to the HEA on that basis. Each higher education...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, I will shortly publish a five year plan outlining the school building projects that will commence construction in that time. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet future projected demographic demands will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: It is a matter for the Board of Management as the employer, in consultation with the relevant school management body and trade union, to conduct grievance procedures in respect of a teacher. My Department has no function in this area.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The independent Student Grant Appeals Board was established in September 2011.The Appeals Board sits at regular intervals to consider appeals submitted under Section 21 of the Student Support Act 2011. The appeal of the person referred to by the Deputy is one of thirty six appeals to be considered at the February sitting of the Appeals Board which takes place on Tuesday 21st February. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Work is well advanced on the value for money review of small primary schools. I expect that the report of the review should be available to me shortly. I will then have to consider its outcomes and proposals. When this process is complete, publication will be arranged.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) are paid directly by the Committees which employ them. The Deputy should note that the CEO is not a member of the VEC. Apart from basic salary, CEOs may qualify for payment of allowances in respect of the discharge of the role of Transport Liaison Officer and/or as Secretary to a Board of Management of a Comprehensive...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Diocesan Office recently facilitated a visit by my Department to the property in question. My Officials will be in further communication with the Diocesan Office shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There are currently seven retired public servants serving on boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department where annual remuneration fees apply. In addition the Chairpersons of both the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB) and the Residential Institutions Review Committee (RIRC) are both retired public servants and are paid salaries subject to pension abatement. Two other members...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers is a recognised national school and attracts funding from my Department in the same way as all other national schools. All recognised national schools running costs are met by my Departments schemes of capitation and ancillary service grants. Schools receive capitation funding in January and June, and the ancillary services grant in March. The amount paid...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. Officials in my Department have been in contact with Donegal VEC and Donegal County Council in relation to identifying a suitable site in the Buncrana area for a Campus Development. A number of potential sites that were identified have been deemed unsuitable for a number of reasons. However, my Department will continue to engage with the...

Written Answers — Local Drugs Task Forces: Local Drugs Task Forces (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Prior to 1st January 2001, drugs projects were funded through Local Drugs Task Forces by the then Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation. Since 2001, responsibility for 36 of these projects was transferred to my Department, a process referred to as 'mainstreaming'. My Department issued annual allocations to the VECs in Dublin City, Dublin County and Dun Laoghaire to administer the...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government gives a commitment to move towards a more pluralist system of patronage at second level, recognising a wider number of patrons. In June of last year I announced that 20 new second level schools would be established up to 2017 to meet increasing demographics. Applications for...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Currently 96% of primary schools are under denominational patronage, with almost 90% under the patronage of the Catholic Church. This reflects an historical legacy. Over recent decades, Irish society has undergone major political, social, cultural, demographic and educational change. At the same time a greater diversity of religious beliefs and non-belief systems within the population has...

Written Answers — School Curriculum: School Curriculum (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 106 together. I have no plans to introduce Coder Dojo into the curriculum at present. The overall approach to ICT, based on the advice of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is that ICT is not a subject, but rather a tool to be integrated into all aspects of teaching and learning. The Council has published a curriculum framework for...

Written Answers — Third Level Courses: Third Level Courses (22 Feb 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government is strongly committed to promoting Ireland as a centre for international education. The Programme for Government sets out an ambitious target of doubling international student numbers over the coming five years, through full implementation of the international education strategy, Investing in Global Relationships. It is also identified in the Action Plan for Jobs as a...