Results 14,701-14,720 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am very conscious that the cost of textbooks is a considerable burden on families. Since becoming Minister for Education and Skills, I have attempted to take steps to reduce the burden on families. Shortly after coming into office I met with members of the Irish Educational Publishers' Association and impressed on them the need to limit the cost of textbooks. I have also stressed to them...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: An appeal from the student in question was considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 16th April, 2013. I understand that Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) was requested to review this application by the Board. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the application is currently being reassessed and the student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The core function of the redeployment arrangements is to facilitate the redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers to other schools that have vacancies. The redeployment of all surplus permanent teachers is key to the Department's ability to manage within its payroll budget and ceiling on teacher numbers. Thereafter, schools are required under the panel arrangements to fill permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in the case of the student referred to by the Deputy, his student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI on the 25th of April 2013. The appeal is currently being examined and the student will be notified directly by SUSI of the outcome in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government has protected frontline services in schools to the greatest extent possible in the recent budget and there will be no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2013/14 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Sick Leave (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The following tabular statement contains the data requested by the Deputy. My colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform issued a revised circular late last year in relation to sick leave for Civil Servants which places greater constraints on the operation of self certified sick leave. - 2009 2010 2011 2012 Uncertified Sick Days 1589.10 1408.93 1292.79 987.19...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is to ensure that a continuum of special educational provision is made available, as required, for children with special educational needs, including those attending special schools. This includes making provision for special school and special class placements where required. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Expenditure (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In the period following the outcome of the selection process there was an implementation planning stage for SUSI up to May 2012 when CDVEC by way of order under the Student Support Act 2011 was designated as the appointed awarding authority for student grants on 22nd May 2012. Some staffing, project set up costs and operation costs were incurred by the CDVEC in that period which the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Education Finance Board (EFB) was financed by the €12.7 million contribution provided by the religious congregations under the 2002 Indemnity Agreement specifically earmarked for educational support for former residents and their families. In November 2011 the EFB indicated that it expected that the funds available to it would be fully allocated on applications already received...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 10th May, 2013 advising her that she was deemed ineligible to receive a grant. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, she/he may appeal, in the first instance, to the appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the applicant referred to by the Deputy was issued with a decision on the 22nd April 2013 advising him that he was deemed ineligible to receive a grant. If an individual applicant considers that she/he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The management authorities of the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application 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 of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that in preparation for the 2013/2014 academic year both the on-line application system and the application assessment process have been further developed to enhance their effectiveness and efficiency and respond to experiences from year one. For applicants applying through SUSI for the 2013/14 academic year, a number of new...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Issues (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following is a list of the seven bodies under the aegis of my Department that were classified as a "regulatory body" in the report entitled "Bodies in Ireland with Regulatory Powers" which was produced in 2007. A "regulatory body" is defined as one that has functions in at least two of the following three areas of activities: - The formulation of goals; the making of rules and / or the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information the Deputy has requested is included in the table below. Details of all bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education & Skills are available on my Department's website www.education.ie. List of State agencies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills Agency Website An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies (18 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Since March 2011 a number of new bodies have been established following the merger and rationalisation of other bodies. Under the Public Service Reform plan the following were identified for rationalisation:• The merger of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology & Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Science into consolidated single...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Haddington Road Agreement Issues (19 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The pay reduction under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013 will apply from 1 July 2013 for public servants, including teachers, on salaries of €65,000 and greater (inclusive of allowances in the nature of pay). The details of the reductions are enclosed in the attached table. The 5.5% reduction applies to all salary below €80,000, not solely the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (19 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on the Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing arrangements for the coming school year 2013/14 are set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (19 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The three post primary schools in Ennistymon have agreed to amalgamate on delivery of a new school building. This project will require additional land in order for it to progress any further. In that regard, the Oireachtas enacted the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act in 2012 and Section 42 of this Act which sets out provisions relating to the charitable status of contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (19 Jun 2013)

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