Results 6,181-6,200 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Delays (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand from Student Universal Support Ireland that grants processing is largely up to date and that completed applications are now being dealt with as they come in. The current position on processing of grants by Student Universal Support Ireland, as at close of business on 20 January 2013 is that 47,674 applications have been processed to completion. Of the remaining applications,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Educational Psychological Service (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) has not withdrawn from carrying out testing for, or from involvement in, the scheme for Reasonable Accommodation in Certificate. Examinations (RACE). Under this scheme NEPS psychologists make recommendations annually in respect of some 5000 applications for accommodations such as readers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Circular 31/2011 details teacher registration and qualification requirements for appointment as a teacher in the primary and post primary sector. Schools are required to prioritise registered teachers over unregistered persons, appropriately qualified teachers over teachers qualified in another sector and unemployed teachers over those in receipt of a pension. It may be the case that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 235 together. It is important to note that the issues raised in the survey referred to by the Deputies are best dealt with at local school level. Such surveys give an insight into how schools exercised the enhanced discretion or autonomy that they had because the reduction in posts was done by bringing guidance in quota. If the alternative (a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (22 Jan 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. SNAs are allocated to schools in order to provide for the care needs...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Literacy Levels (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In December 2012 the most recent international results were published. These were PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study) and TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study) which involved pupils from 4 class in our primary schools. In reading, Irish pupils were ranked 10 out of 45 participating countries. Ireland was placed 17 out of 50 participating...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In March 2011, 645 schools were renting 1692 prefab units. Today that number has been reduced to 538 schools renting 1403 units. This reduction is mainly due to the number of large scale building projects that have been completed by my Department in that period. Information in relation to the number of purchased prefabs replaced in the same two year period is not readily available. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: In my role as Minister for Education and Skills, I frequently visit Universities and other educational institutions and also meet University Presidents at conferences and other events. I also endeavour to formally meet with University Presidents as well as other education stakeholders on education policy issues on a regular basis. For example last June I met with the University Presidents...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that on the 21st January 2013, a request for further documentation in relation to residency and nationality was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. As soon as the requested documentation is received, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Qualifications (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Following consultation with teacher unions, school management bodies and the Teaching Council, Circular 0029/2012 was issued by my Department last year. It is available on my Department's website. The circular sets out the conditions which govern the probationary process for primary teachers. While responsibility for establishing procedures and criteria for the probation of teachers,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: As part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education, IBEC, in cooperation with the Higher Education Authority and higher education institutions, completed the first pilot national survey of employers in December 2012. The overall results of the survey, which are available on the HEA website (www.hea.ie), were very positive, with over 75% of companies expressing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Payments (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have been informed by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the documentation supplied by the student in question in support of her grant application is not adequate. SUSI wrote again to the student on 17th January 2013 in relation to this matter. As soon as the requested documentation is received, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Article 15(8) of the Student Grant Scheme 2012 provides awarding authorities with discretion to waive the provisions of Article 15(7)(b)(ii) in exceptional circumstances and consider funding for a repeat period of study, in line with guidelines drawn up by the Minister. The guidelines include the nature of the exceptional circumstances as documented by the applicant, when they occurred and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 264 and 270 together. I can confirm that a review of the temporary accommodation at the above school took place in July 2012 as per standard practice when the rental contract was due to expire. My Department advised the school at that time that rental grant aid would continue to be approved until June 2013. Correspondence in the matter has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Students qualifying for a student grant have their student contribution paid by the Exchequer. For families of less than four dependent children, the threshold for the payment of the student contribution is €51,380. A further income threshold of €55,920 exists for a grant of 50% towards the student contribution. This ensures that students from lower socioeconomic groups are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that the student referred to by the Deputy has, on appeal, been awarded a grant and an award letter issued on 21 January 2013.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that it is in receipt of an appeal on foot of its decision on the grant application from the student in question. As soon as the appeal is reviewed, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland, that on 31 October 2012, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned, the student will be notified directly of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 253 to 255, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, I endorsed the framework for system development laid out in the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030 which outlines a developmental pathway towards designation as a Technological University for merged institutes of technology who seek to apply. The roll-out of the approved process...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (22 Jan 2013)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland that on 15 January 2013, a request for further documentation was issued to the student referred to by the Deputy. When the requested documentation is returned the student will be notified directly of the outcome.