Results 2,141-2,160 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: No pro bono work was provided to my Department by legal, accountancy or consulting firms in the past twenty four months. With regard to bodies under the aegis of my Department the information sought is a matter for each agency and is not collated centrally. If the Deputy has an interest in a particular agency then officials in my Department will request the agency concerned to provide the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Data (28 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The information sought is set out on the following table in respect of the years 2009 to 2012 inclusive. Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. The information in respect of 2013 is currently being compiled and will be forwarded separately to the Deputy as soon as it is available. With regard to bodies under the aegis of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, in order to ensure that as many children as possible can be educated with their peers within their own community. My Department therefore provides for a range of placement options and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme are available for downloading...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grants awarding body, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) confirmed on Monday 20th January 2014 that students attending the course referred to by the Deputy are approved for funding. The decision follows a review carried out, as part of on-going audits of student grants, on a valid question which arose over the eligibility of the specified course. On looking into the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Data (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled retrospectively in respect of the previous year. The details in respect of 2013 are currently being compiled and will be provided to the Deputy as soon as they are to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tionscadail Tógála Scoileanna (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá an tionscadal mór tógála don scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta ag céim luath den phleanáil ailtireachta, céim 2a. Ar céim 2a a bheith curtha i gcrích go sásúil, agus ar an gcoinníoll nach dtagann aon dálaí eile i gceist, rachaidh an tionscadal ar aghaidh go dtí Céim 2(b) ar a n-áirítear...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. The student grants awarding body, SUSI (Student Universal Support Ireland) confirmed on Monday 20th January 2014 that students attending the course referred to by the Deputy are approved for funding. The decision follows a review carried out, as part of on-going audits of student grants, on a valid question which arose over the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers is among a range of schools earmarked for delivery through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) process. The PPP process forms a central part of the Government's overall economic stimulus package. This specific school was identified for inclusion in the PPP process in May 2013. Procurement of the bundle of schools to which this school belongs began last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland Staff (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) has been allocated €7.225m in 2014 to support the performance of its functions. It was allocated €7.416m in 2013, although its outturn for that year was €6.416m. Due to the timeframe involved in the development of QQI's new policies and processes, QQI's level of activity was less than anticipated in 2013, giving rise to the saving...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 85 together. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded the full non adjacent maintenance grant. She is not eligible for a fee grant as she is studying in a college outside the state. It appears that the original grant award letter was sent in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has recently been informed by South Dublin County Council that the Members of the Council have approved the disposal of a suitable site in the Council's ownership, which will allow for the provision of new school accommodation for the school to which the Deputy refers. My officials are working closely with officials from the Council to progress...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2b - Detailed Design. Planning permission and a disability access certificate have been secured for this project. A decision by the local authority regarding the application for a fire certificate is awaited. Once all statutory approvals are secured the design team...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are working on the completion of stage 2(b) of Architectural Planning. Due to competing demands on the Department's capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of additional school accommodation to meet increasing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: First let me clarify that the Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years. Their efforts mean that the high costs of school books is being...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Book Rental Scheme (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. The Deputy will be aware from Budget 2014 that additional funding has been provided which will involve an investment of €15m to support the establishment of book rental schemes in primary schools that do not currently operate them. The Department will provide €5m in seed capital per annum over a three year period to such...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The query to which the Deputy refers is being addressed by the Pension Unit of my Department and officials will be in contact with the person to whom the Deputy refers in the coming week.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Illness benefit and Supplementary welfare allowance are not eligible payments for the special rate of grant because they are considered to be short-term payments. Jobseeker's allowance is considered to be a short-term payment unless it is held for 391 consecutive days at the 31st December. Periods of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Maternity Benefit may be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Illness benefit and Supplementary welfare allowance are not eligible payments for the special rate of grant because they are considered to be short-term payments. Jobseeker's allowance is considered to be a short-term payment unless it is held for 391 consecutive days at the 31st December. Periods of Jobseeker's Allowance, Jobseeker's Benefit, Illness Benefit and Maternity Benefit may be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (23 Jan 2014)

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 and comprises two sub-priorities: the Student Assistance Fund and the Fund for Students with Disabilities. The overall value of the measure for the 2013/14 academic year is €16.2m. The management of the Third Level Access Measure...