Results 3,141-3,160 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (15 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, stage 2(b). The project was included in the 'Investment in Infrastructure & Jobs' Programme announced in June 2013. A Revised Stage 2b (Detailed Design) submission is expected shortly from the Design Team for review by my Department and will include a prequalified list of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Expenditure (15 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: There was no change in Budget 2013 to any of the student grant rates including the non-adjacent or adjacent rates of grant, or the higher special rate of grant, for the 2013 financial year. 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Postgraduate Loan Scheme Implementation (15 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following discussions with my Department, with support and advice from the National Treasury Management Agency, a specific loan initiative was introduced by Bank of Ireland in 2012 to provide finance for fees and living costs for postgraduate students. While developed in conjunction with the Department of Education and Skills, it is a Bank of Ireland product and further information on the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (15 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has, following an appeal, been awarded the maximum postgraduate fee grant of €6,270. This amount has now been fully paid to the institution in respect of the academic year 2012/13. Tax relief is also available on postgraduate tuition fees. Details in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Issues (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I am informed that the number of apprentices registered by employers in the past 5 years, as well as the total apprentice population for each year is as follows: Year Registrations Apprenticeship population 2008 3,765 26,170 2009 1,535 21,407 2010 1,204 14,801 2011 1,307 13,001 2012 1,434 8,862 2013 1,266 (year to date) 7,725 (year to date The above figures also include the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 66 together. Apprenticeship training in Ireland is regulated by legislation, with FÁS as the regulatory authority. It is an employer demand-driven programme aimed at developing the skills of the apprentice to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. In recent years, the impact of the economic downturn has led to a collapse in demand...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 1 October 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (10 Oct 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: State Examinations Issues (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has operational responsibility for the operation of the certificate examinations. One of the key objectives of the SEC is to provide an examinations system of the highest possible quality. The aspiration of any examining body, including the SEC, is to preside over a system that is completely error free. However, it is recognised, across the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including organising the holding of examinations, determining procedures in places where examinations are conducted including the supervision of examinations and making arrangements for the marking of work presented for examination. In view of this I have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Car Parks (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy have been approved devolved funding to replace prefabs at their school. In recent days the school have submitted a further request for capital funding to provide additional car parking spaces on their school site. I wish to advise the Deputy that, in general, individual school authorities are responsible, in the first instance, for ensuring the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently considering the application to which he refers and a response will be conveyed to the school authorities shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Availability (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the terms of my Department's School Transport scheme for Children with Special Educational Needs arising from a diagnosed disability, children are eligible for transport where they: 1. have special educational needs arising from a diagnosed disability in accordance with the designation of high and low incidence disability set out in Department of Education and Skill's (DES) Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed that as of close of business on 6th October, SUSI has received 7,073 new applications after the 5th August 2013 closing date. SUSI has already initially assessed 3,284 of the late new applications.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Expenditure (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been awarded a postgraduate fee contribution of €2,000 and an award letter issued on 26 September 2013. Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme 2013 postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Home Tuition Scheme Provision (10 Oct 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the purpose of the Home Tuition Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons such as chronic illness, are unable to attend school. The scheme was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement and also to provide early educational intervention for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (10 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (10 Oct 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 (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's...