Results 3,561-3,580 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Appointments (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together. I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by phone and a letter informing the student of the outcome of his appeal is being issued. For the Deputy's information, attached is a list of the agencies under the aegis of my Department. There are currently no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Professional Diploma in Education (PDE), previously known as a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), was placed on the framework of qualifications at Level 8 with effect from the start of the academic year 2011/12. The course is considered to be a postgraduate course for the purposes of the Student Grant Scheme. To satisfy the terms and conditions of the student grant scheme in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Those who meet the qualifying conditions for the special rate of grant under the Student Grant Scheme will be eligible to have their post-graduate tuition fees paid up to the maximum fee limit of €6,270. Currently maintenance support is not available for students entering postgraduate courses. To qualify for the special rate of grant an applicant must meet the following conditions:...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Therefore, all income is assessed from the same starting point, eliminating any distortion which might arise from different spending decisions. The means test arrangements of the student grant scheme are applied nationally. In the case of both employed and self-employed applicants,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Responsibility for the delivery of a new 16 classroom school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the Office of Public Works. The project is at the early stages of architectural planning and I understand that the OPW is currently liasing with the school authorities to progress the sketch scheme for the school. A site survey has been completed and a building survey on the existing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Holidays Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 319 together. The scheduling of the school holiday periods during the academic year is agreed between the managerial authorities of schools, the teacher unions, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform under the auspices of the Teachers Conciliation Council. The current agreement covers the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: For student grants purposes, students are categorised according to their circumstances either as students dependent on parents or a legal guardian, or as independent mature students. An independent mature student is defined as a mature student who was not ordinarily resident with his or her parents or legal guardian from the October preceding entry or re-entry to further or higher education....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the SUSI website provides general guidance to students of different classes who may be considering applying for a grant and also provides specific information where it is relevant to the majority of grant applicants in any class. All applicants are advised to refer to the relevant terms of the student grants scheme and to other...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 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, that a letter issued on 28th August 2013 advising that she was ineligible for a grant due to incomplete documentation. This decision was appealed to SUSI by the student and the application is currently under appeal with SUSI. Where an appeal is turned...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a new set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). One aspect of this Agreement relates to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: For student grants purposes, a student may be assessed as an independent student if he/she has attained the age of 23 on the 1st of January of the year of first entry to an approved post leaving certificate course or an approved higher education course or of re-entry to an approved course following a break in studies of at least three years, and is not ordinarily resident with his/her parents...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a new set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). One aspect of this Agreement relates to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The Framework for Junior Cycle which is to be implemented from 2014, acknowledges the key role of entrepreneurship. In its principles the Framework highlights the role of "creativity and innovation". There are 24 Statements of Learning which specify what students should know, understand, value and be able to do at the end of junior cycle. A number of the statements are relevant to enterprise...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324, 337, 340, 373, 407, 409 and 411 together. The issues raised in each of these questions relate to budgetary matters. The budget for education, including the number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a matter that I will have to consider with my colleagues in Cabinet in the context of the forthcoming budget. The decisions in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (18 Sep 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, her student grant application was appealed to the appeals officer in SUSI on 29th August and the student will be notified directly by SUSI of the outcome. Where an appeal is turned down in writing by SUSI and the applicant remains of the view...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has been contacted by phone and a letter informing the student of the outcome of his appeal is being issued.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: The 5 Year Construction Plan that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The Deputy will be aware that an extension project at the school to which he refers has been included in the Plan and is due to commence construction in 2015/16. The current status of all projects on the school building programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 370 together. The context for any discussion about class sizes is that my Department, like all other Government Departments, is operating within a budgetary programme that is designed to return the Government finances to a sustainable basis. My focus is on ensuring we have school places and teachers for all the additional pupils entering our schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary schools. All contracts under the Schools Broadband Access Programme were re-tendered last year under a public procurement competition. As a result of this the number of service providers has been expanded from 6 to 13 with the aim of ensuring that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Stay Safe Programme (18 Sep 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In accordance with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. In general, the Board has the responsibility to ensure that the school operates efficiently and effectively. Boards of Management are required to comply with the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the relevant Rules for National schools and the...