Results 14,841-14,860 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Yes.

Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am sharing time with Deputy Donohoe. I am glad that I had the opportunity to hear Deputy Naughten, a man whom I respect and whose knowledge of matters in this House is fairly extensive, but I must say, with no disrespect to the point of view that he expressed, that when one resorts to the minutiae of Supreme Court interpretation in a Second Stage debate, it would appear that many on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the level of resources devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been maintained at €1.3 billion this year. This includes provision for 10,575 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and nearly 10,000 Learning Support and Resource Teachers. These resources have been protected despite the ongoing severe financial position. Whereas the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The school building project referred to by the Deputy was included in the 5 year building programme announced in March 2012 and is listed to progress to construction in 2015/16. The Design Team appointment has been completed and the project is now at an early stage of architectural planning. The application process for patronage is currently underway. The closing date for receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Administration (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Apart from the recognised fee-charging second level schools, recognised schools are not permitted to charge school fees. All other recognised schools are precluded from charging school fees. Voluntary contributions by parents of pupils in such recognised schools are permissible provided it is made absolutely clear to parents that there is no question of compulsion to pay and that, in making...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools are published annually on the Department's website. The key factors for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level are the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and the pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. However, the staffing schedule also includes provision for schools that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate courses pursued outside the island of Ireland. Tax relief at the standard rate of tax may be claimed in respect of tuition fees paid for approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in EU Member States and in non-EU countries. Further information on this tax relief...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Shorter Working Year Scheme, which was introduced in 2009 (Ref: Department of Finance Circular 14/09) supersedes the previous Term Time Scheme (Ref: Department of Finance Circular 32/06). Under the Shorter Working Year Scheme, staff can apply for special unpaid leave for one or more continuous periods of not less than two and not more than 13 weeks at any time during the year, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on 19 June 2013. SUSI has advised that the applicant will need to upload her bank details on line in order for payments to commence.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Staff Numbers (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 115 together. Department of Finance circular 14/2009 governs the conditions that apply to the shorter working year scheme for officials within the Civil Service. Circular 44/2009 governs the Shorter Working Year Scheme in a number of agencies in the wider education sector. In addition, Department of Finance circulars 33/1964 and 23/2007 govern the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Training (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The granting of study leave in my Department is governed by Department of Finance Circular 23/07. Details of study leave taken in my Department in 2012 and 2013 are outlined in the following table: Year Number of staff that availed of study leave Average number of days taken 2012 54 4.6 2013* 39 4.0 *The total for 2013 includes 2.5 days of unpaid leave availed of by one staff member.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland 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 18th of June 2013. On that basis, the application is currently being reviewed and the student will be notified directly by SUSI of the outcome. Where an appeal is turned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports including resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support as well as the establishment of special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the July Education Programme is available to all special schools and mainstream primary schools with special classes catering for children with autism that choose to extend their education services through the month of July. My Department also provides for a July Programme for pupils with a severe/profound general learning disability. Where school based provision...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Representations (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The aim of the student maintenance grant scheme has always been to make a contribution to the cost of going to college; covering the full cost has never been a feasible option. As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. This is a very stark reality, which, unfortunately,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Student Assistance Fund is a component of the Third Level Access Measure which is managed on behalf of my Department by the Higher Education Authority. The Fund is administered on a local basis by participating higher education institutions and targets those students most in-need. The Fund has increased substantially in recent years, from €5m in 2010-11 to a core allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The student referred to by the Deputy is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, if he pursues a course in the 2013/2014 academic year he may be entitled to the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). Eligibility for the BTEA and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department for Social Protection. Students who qualify for the BTEA, may be considered for support for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (27 Jun 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the provision of individual plans for children with special needs is recognised as an important feature of good educational practice. Schools are encouraged to use IEPs through policy guidance, support, training and inspection. The advice of my Department's Inspectorate is that the majority of schools are now using some form of individual education planning...