Results 13,101-13,120 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin did not seek, through their Whips, to have a debate on this motion in the House when it came back from committee. There was no request.

Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I was assured by the Minister of State, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, a few seconds ago that she was at the committee, there was a full and comprehensive debate on the matters being addressed and there was no request from any member of the committee that there be a return to a full plenary session. The committee did not express dissatisfaction with the way it was debated or request that it be...

Order of Business (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Deputy Martin is quite entitled to ask. He is long enough in this House, probably not long enough in opposition but long enough in this House, to know how business is done and he has not done his business properly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take questions 6365/13, 6426/13 together.I am aware of the considerable demand for the provision of multi-denominational primary school places in the area referred to by the Deputies and that this demand has grown over the last number of years. I can confirm to the Deputies that discussions are ongoing between my Department and the authorities of an existing school in this area...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The principal support available to a student in financial terms is provided under the student grant scheme, which makes available means-tested financial assistance to less well off students. The main objective of the student grant scheme is to provide aid to students, who otherwise might not be able to afford to attend college. The scheme is intended to make a contribution to the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In addition to financial support for the student for his fees under the student grant scheme, the Fund for Students with Disabilities provides funding to higher education institutions for the provision of services and supports for full-time students with disabilities. The Student Assistance Fund also continues to be made available to third-level institutions to assist students in exceptional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware that there are far more women than men entering the teaching profession, particularly at primary level. This is an international phenomenon. I believe that it is important to attract men into teaching for a number of reasons, not least of which is the positive role models that teachers provide in children's lives and the desirability of having both male and female role models in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 28th January 2013, 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: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Information in respect of the current status of all assessed applications for major capital works, including an application from the school referred to by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, which is updated regularly throughout the year. The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012 last, together with my recent announcement of the 50...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: At the close of business on 6 February, 2013 the Student grant Appeals Board has received 157 appeals for the 2012/13 academic year. 89 of these have been considered to date of which 10 were overturned. A further 40 appeals are scheduled for consideration by the Appeals Board on 13 February next. The remainder are expected to be scheduled for hearing on 12 March, 2013. The statistical data...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 7th January 2013, a request for further documentation was issued to the student in question. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Services Provision (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were recently re-tendered under a public procurement competition. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 with the aim of ensuring that where...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Insurance Payments (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In the case of teachers who obtain part-time hours in a casual /non casual capacity in post primary schools, the rate of pay is based on the annual rates of pay divided by 735 hours (maximum teaching contact hours per annum) to get an hourly rate, as opposed to the annual rate of pay divided by 365 and multiplied by the hours worked plus 8% holiday pay. This ensures that qualified part-time...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: From September 2010, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme. However, the cost of the student services charge and tuition fees payable to colleges continues to be met for eligible students by the Exchequer on their behalf. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has published a Value for Money (VFM) and Policy Analysis Review of the Special Needs Assistant scheme. This review is available on my Departments website: www.education.gov.ie. The Review has shown that the SNA Scheme has been successful in supporting schools in meeting the needs of students with disabilities who also have significant care needs....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department does not hold the information requested by the Deputy. The Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for the registration of teachers in this State. Recognition of teachers in the United States is a matter for the governing authorities there.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As requested by the Deputy, I am providing a breakdown of the 1,833 third level students on a county basis who have been awarded a maintenance grant and are now due to be paid by Student Universal Support Ireland. This data has been supplied to my Department by Student Universal Support Ireland. 781 PLC students are also due to be paid. The majority of these students currently awaiting...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (7 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application recently for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to carry out various improvement works at their school. As the scope of works for which funding is sought is outside the terms of the scheme they cannot be considered for funding. The management authority of the school has been informed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (12 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 25 January, 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (12 Feb 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Seventy-three small primary schools were originally due to lose a classroom teacher in September 2012 as a result of the budget measure to increase the relevant pupil thresholds. The affected schools were given the right of appeal to the Primary Staffing Appeal Board in the event that they could show that their projected enrolments for September 2012 were sufficient to allow them retain their...