Results 16,201-16,220 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Redundancy Payments (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The detailed arrangements regarding supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs for the 2013/2014 school year are set out in Departmental Circular 0037/2013 which issued on 1 July 2013 and which is available on the Department's website at the following address: With effect from 1 May 2013 once an SNA with a minimum of one year's service is notified by his/her employer that he/she is to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Responsibility for the delivery of an extension to the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Kilkenny & Carlow Education and Training Board (ETB). I understand the Design Team appointed by the ETB are currently completing the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design) and, when complete, consideration will be given to allowing the ETB proceed to Stage 2b -...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is working with the patron of the school in question to identify and secure suitable accommodation for the schools start up in 2014.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I expect to be in a position to announce the outcome of the patronage determination process for all new post-primary schools due to commence operation in 2015 and 2016 shortly. This includes patronage for the proposed new school for Ballinteer/Stepaside.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The following primary schools in County Westmeath benefited from capital funding in the period 1 April 2011 to end October 2013. 2013 Mullingar Convert (JNR) Cornafulla NS St Annes NS St Peters NS (SNR) St Feichins Rochfortbridge Convent NS Streamstown Mixed NS Brideswell NS Sn Deaghan O Ceallaigh Kilcumeragh NS Scoil Na nDun Bl Oliver Plunkett NS Curraghmore NS St Manchans NS St Ciarans NS...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The following post-primary schools in County Westmeath benefited from capital funding in the period 1 April 2011 to end October 2013. 2013 Loreto College, Mullingar Wilson's Hospital Multyfarnham Convent Secondary School, Kilbeggan St Finians College Mullingar St Josephs Secondary School Rochfordbridge Mullingar Community College 2012 St Aloysius College Athlone Our Ladys Bower Athlone...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the terms of the student grant scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those which relate to nationality, residency, approved course, previous academic attainment and means. Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was ineligible for the special rate of maintenance grant as the social welfare payment has not been in payment for the required period as specified in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Data (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 99 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that all schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs, including Specific Learning Disability (SLD), of which dyslexia and dyscalculia are such Specific Learning Disability's. All mainstream Primary schools have been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Bodies Data (20 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to non-commercial State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills can be downloaded from my Department's website. For the Deputy's information under the Public Service Reform plan the following were identified for rationalisation or merger and since March 2011 the following actions have taken place. The Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy for the 2013/14 academic year was refused. SUSI has confirmed that the student is undertaking a course of study at a lower level than that previously pursued. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was awarded on the 4th October, 2013. Students get paid as soon as possible after they submit their bank accounts details and their institutions confirm their attendance. SUSI is awaiting confirmation from the applicant's college before...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The criteria for the allocation of posts are communicated to school management annually and are available on the Department website.Preparation for the staffing and redeployment process for the 2014/15 school year is currently underway in my Department. The staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Numbers (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In June 2011, I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for increasing demographics across a number of locations. These consist of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools. This announcement did not include a proposal to establish a new post-primary school in Newbridge. The Forward Planning Section of my Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that it has awarded a total of some 40,000 students grants up to end October 2013. The total number of awards to end of the same period in 2012 was just under 8,000. The next SUSI update report is due at the end of November and it is estimated that by then some 50,000 applications will have been awarded compared to 14,000 for the same...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund Issues (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Apart from the funding provided through the student grant schemes, the Department also provides funding to approved third level institutions to operate a Student Assistant Fund to assist students in exceptional financial need. Information on the fund is available from the Student Access Officer at the student's college.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant award letter that issued on the 6th September 2013 to the student referred to by the Deputy was sent in error. The Deputy will appreciate that some errors may inevitably arise when handling a high volume of applications within a relatively short timeframe. SUSI has confirmed that on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department takes careful account of research into the effectiveness of teaching and learning. Research literature from other countries does not provide definitive conclusions regarding the effects of school size and there is no comprehensive research on this matter in the Irish context. However, there is a strong consensus in research literature that one of the most important influences on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested on the number of appointments made to State boards since March 2011 is outlined in the following table. It should be noted that Board appointments, while made by me as Minister, are not in all cases made at my sole discretion. Individuals may be nominated for appointment by various organisations as specified in the relevant statute of the body concerned. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Establishment (21 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 to 80, inclusive, together. As the Deputy may be aware, I met with representatives of the parents' associations from schools in the area referred to. The deputation put forward the view that the new post-primary school being established in 2014 in the area should be configured, along with the existing post-primary school into a junior school / senior...