Results 12,301-12,320 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was unsuccessful and that he appealed the decision to the appeals officer in the relevant grant awarding authority and their original decision was upheld. The student subsequently appealed the decision to my Department and the appeal was reviewed. On the basis of the details supplied...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy is currently under review with SUSI. The student will be notified by SUSI directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have accepted the recommendations set out in a report commissioned by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on the structures of initial teacher education. The purpose of the report was to identify possible new structures to improve initial teacher education in Ireland so that it is comparable with the best in the world. The international panel of education experts recommended that teacher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) is a statutory body established in 2003 under section 54 of the Education Act, 1998. The functions of the SEC are defined in the State Examinations Commission (Establishment) Order, 2003 and are to provide a high-quality state examinations and assessment system incorporating the highest standards of openness, fairness and accountability. As part of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Physical Education (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Physical education (P.E.) is included in the curriculum at primary level and it also forms part of the Junior Certificate at post primary level. At primary level, the P.E. curriculum includes six broad strands comprising Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, Games, Outdoor and adventure activities and Aquatics. A minimum of one hour of P.E. per week is recommended for all primary school pupils. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A revised circular relating to operational elements of the home tuition scheme is due to issue from my Department shortly. As previously advised the eligibility criteria for home tuition remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Adviser Pay (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the revised conditions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance on the 24th, March 2011, I appointed 2 special advisers at my Department. Their respective salaries are €92,672 and €86,604 per annum. As provided for under the terms of the Ethics in Public Office Acts copies of the appointees' contracts of employment together with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: At this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2013/14 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the next budget. The Government will endeavour to protect front-line education services as best as...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy a grant has been refused and a letter outlining the position issued on the 25th October 2012. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to SUSI....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that on the 9th November, 2012 a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (28 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that further supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy and his application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of the above, I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Reform (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 to 87, inclusive, together. In January 2011, my Department issued an Expressions of Interest invitation to local authorities, VECs and other public bodies interested in taking on administrative responsibility for the centralised student grants awarding and payments function. The criteria used to evaluate the proposals were set out in the Expressions of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The following table provides a breakdown on a county basis of the number of students who have been awarded a student grant and the numbers who received payment of their student maintenance grants as at the 23rd November, 2012 from Student Universal Support Ireland. The data has been supplied to my Department by SUSI. SUSI is continuing to make payments on a weekly basis to ensure students...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2012, SI No. 189 of 2012, provides the awarding authorities with discretion to consider funding for repeat periods of study in exceptional circumstances, in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister. The guidelines issued to the awarding authorities on 15 August 2012. The guidelines outline the matters that may be taken into account by an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Statistics (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: There were 3,297 Department Aided Primary Schools operational in the 2012/2013 academic year (including Special Schools). Of these 665 were DEIS schools. It should be noted that data coverage of private, fee-paying primary schools that are not financially aided by the Department is not complete, as there is no requirement for such schools to make detailed statistical returns to the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy on schools offering a transition year programme is as follows: DEIS schools 120 Non-DEIS schools 462 Fee paying schools 54 Non-fee paying 528

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. Data in relation to the funding of the bodies referred to by the Deputy is currently being compiled by my officials. A response will be issued to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Relocation (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the Department is currently considering an application from the school referred to by the Deputy to re-locate to a vacated school building in the area. A number of legal issues pertaining to this application have been identified and are under examination. My Department has been in contact with the Chairperson of the Board of Management of the school concerned and will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (29 Nov 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with SUSI, the new centralised grant awarding authority, that supporting documentation was received from the student referred to by the Deputy on 28th November and his application will be reviewed shortly. SUSI will contact the student directly in relation to the outcome.