Results 2,841-2,860 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Weight of Schoolbags (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 231 together. My Department issued Circular M35/05 in 2005 to highlight the potential health hazard of overweight schoolbags and to outline a range of local measures that could be put in place to help alleviate the problem. The circular referred to the recommendations of the previously published report of the Working Group on the Weight of School...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (19 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. To avail of funding an applicant must be entering an approved full-time course in an approved institution as set out in the Student Support Act 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Expenditure (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, my Department approved very significant levels of devolved funding to the school, to which the Deputy refers, in June 2011 and has increased the level of grant-aid on two occasions since to provide a permanent extension comprising 2 mainstream classrooms, 2 special education rooms, toilets, disabled access and car-parking/bus set-down. The school has applied for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Internship Scheme Data (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The JobBridge Scheme is administered by the Department of Social Protection. Interns in schools are employed by the schools themselves and they continue to be paid their existing social welfare entitlement from the Department of Social Protection while participating in scheme. My Department does not maintain a record of schools who utilise the JobBridge scheme to employ interns.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: An appeal from the student in question was considered by the independent Student Grants Appeals Board on the 8th October, 2013. I understand that the student was requested to clarify certain information. This new information is due to be considered by the Independent Student Grants Appeals Board today 19th November, 2013. The student will be notified of the outcome in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (19 Nov 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 regarding a permanent change in circumstances. On 13th November 2013, documentation was requested in support of the change in circumstances. When the requested...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. The initiative for any amalgamation or re-organisation may come from a variety of sources, such as parents, staff, Boards of Management and patron. Any such proposal to amalgamate schools must involve consultation with all of the relevant stakeholders and follow decisions taken at local level. The decision making authority for any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (19 Nov 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 with a letter on 14 November 2013 advising him that he was ineligible to receive a grant. Where an individual applicant considers that he has been unjustly refused a student grant, or that the rate of grant awarded is not the correct one, he may...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers remains in its temporary accommodation because outline planning permission for a permanent building for the school was refused. A revised planning application is being lodged shortly with the local authority. This application will also be seeking planning permission for a PE Hall for the host school. This was a feature of the previous planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (19 Nov 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 that she previously attended a course of study in the academic year 2012/2013. Students who have previously attended, but not completed an approved course of study are required to complete an equivalent period of study on an approved course before...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology Issues (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The introduction of tablet devices by a school is an operational matter for the Board of Management of the school. My Department has no role at individual school level in approving such initiatives and therefore does not have a record of the number of schools introducing tablet devices. New technology that impacts on student teaching and learning should only be introduced by schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Tours (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with my Department's circulars, the objective of an educational tour should be to provide a significant benefit in the educational, intellectual, cultural and social development of pupils taking part. It is a matter for each individual school to decide on the suitability of any proposed school tour having regard to these requirements. The Board must exercise all reasonable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: A revised planning application for permanent accommodation for Ballinteer Educate Together on the site where the school is currently hosted is being lodged shortly with the local authority. This application will also be seeking planning permission for a PE Hall for the host school. The timeframe for the delivery of the accommodation in question is dependent on the outcome of the planning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The funding arrangements for post primary schools reflect the sectoral division of our second-level system. At the core of these arrangements is reliance upon capitation as the principal determinant of funding. The Department provides funding directly to voluntary secondary schools by way of per capita grants. However, grants for the day-to-day running costs of ETB schools and community...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is included in the 5 year construction programme with a scheduled construction date in 2014/15. The project is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The stage 2b (Detailed Design) has recently been approved and the school has been informed. My Department will be in contact with the Board of Management and Design Team in due...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the application from the student in question is under review. SUSI will make direct contact with the student when the review has been completed.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (19 Nov 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 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Uniforms (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that it is my intention to issue a circular to all recognised schools, later this month on the issue in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant on 13 November, 2013. The cause of the delay was due to the need to seek additional information because of a change in the applicant's circumstances.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (19 Nov 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 253 together. The Department has issued Circular 0046/2013 to the management authorities of all recognised primary and post primary schools providing free education, in relation to the funding arrangements to schools to provide assistance for textbooks. This Circular also includes reference to the Guidelines for Developing Textbook Rental Schemes in...