Results 9,941-9,960 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (2 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has an application with my Department for capital funding for a major school project. Information in respect of the current status of all assessed applications for major capital works, including this project, is available on the Department's website at www.education.ie. As outlined in the Five Year Plan, the delivery of major school...

Seanad: Employment Equality (Amendment) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: If I may first mark this unique occasion by saying it is a testimony to the respect and the commitment to this matter of both the Minister for Justice and Equality and myself. I thank Senator Power for affording the Oireachtas the opportunity to debate this legislation. Our agreed programme for Government states that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people should not be deterred from...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 105 and 144 together. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met on 18th and 19th April. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board. The Appeals Board...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 to 93, inclusive, and 95 and 96 together. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board met on 18th and 19th April. A total of 367 schools submitted appeals to the Appeals Board. These appeals were considered in accordance with the appeals criteria set out in Department Staffing Circular 0007/2012. 205 schools had their appeals upheld by the Staffing Appeals Board....

Written Answers — Languages Programme: Languages Programme (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Barcelona Conclusions individual member states are invited to adopt the approaches set out in the Conclusions insofar as is appropriate to their particular national priorities, circumstances and resources. My Department fully accepts the desirability of this approach as an EU policy direction. This does not mean however that it is necessarily practicable in every Member state. In...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, I announced last December that the means test for student grants will be amended to take account of the value of certain capital assets as well as income for the 2013/14 academic year. A dedicated Capital Asset Test implementation group has been established. The group has been charged with bringing forward detailed implementation proposals on new means testing...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The arrangements for panel access for fixed term (temporary), substitute and part-time teachers are set out in Department Circular 0012/2012 which is available on my Department's website. My Department has published on its website an indicative breakdown of the 1,769 applications that were received for these panels. My Department is now commencing the checking process in relation to these...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 102, inclusive, together. The fee remission scheme for family members of full time employees of universities is a historical one which was sought to be discontinued by Government in 1982. Following a claim on behalf of affected staff, the Labour Court issued a recommendation in May 1986 stating that arrangements for existing staff should continue. In...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that approval for a new 16 classroom primary school was recently announced on my Department's five year school building programme. Plans for this school are progressing and subject to securing the necessary local authority approvals this school should be ready to proceed to construction in 2013.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to progression, a student must be moving from year to year within a course having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course. The objective of this policy is to help as many students as...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in the five year construction programme and is listed to proceed to construction in 2015/2016. The building project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The design team are currently working on completing the stage 2(b) submission which will then be submitted to my Department for review. For the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the deputy refers is close to completion. However, there are a number of technical issues which need to be resolved before the building can be handed over to the school authority. It is anticipated that these issues will be resolved in the coming weeks. There is currently only one small prefab leased by the school and the rent is €2,878.20 (VAT incl) per annum. The...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Pension schemes generally make provision for the payment of benefit where a member retires because of a medical condition the nature of which makes him/her incapable of discharging the duties of the occupation and is likely to be permanent. Retirement on ill health grounds is a major decision that impacts both on the scheme member and the organisation. The award of pension in such...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The table attached details the number of staff employed in my Department by salary band and job title at the end of 2011. As of end December 2011, the number of staff employed in my Department, including staffing of the Inspectorate and of the National Educational Psychological Service, was 1,251 whole time equivalents (WTE). The number of staff at the end of March 2012 was 1,216 WTE. PQ...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. An analysis of payments made in respect of travel and subsistence in my Department during 2011 shows an average payment of €461 per claimant for Foreign Travel and €1,718 per claimant for Domestic Travel. The payment of Travel and Subsistence by officers within my Department in connection with official business is made in accordance...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I attach a breakdown outlining details of expenditure from my Department's administrative budget subhead A3.1 (Official Entertainment) in 2011. Cost Centre: Payment: Description: HIGHER EDUCATION PRS €314.00 Lunch hosted by Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan) MINISTER €89.00 Credit Card Charge - Hotel Meeting - Tánaiste (Mary Coughlan) MINISTER €70.00 Hotel Accommodation - Tánaiste (Mary...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The total expenditure on uniforms by my Department in 2011 was €4,174.27 This expenditure is in respect of uniforms (including a footwear allowance) for my Department's service officers.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The overall allocation for postal and telecommunications services in my Department for 2012 is €2.64 million. This funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A4. The 2012 allocation represents an increase of approximately 10% over actual expenditure in 2011. The reason for the increased provision in 2012 is twofold: a) Some flexibility is required in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The allocation for my Department's office premises expenses for 2012 is €2.34 million. The funding is provided in my Department's Administrative Budget, subhead A6. The 2012 allocation for subhead A6 represents an increase of approximately 43% over actual expenditure in 2011 (€1.635 million). The reasons for this level of provision in 2012 are as follows: a) An allocation of some €0.4...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 May 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.