Results 7,961-7,980 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that Donegal VEC have informed my Department that submissions have been sought for possible suitable sites for the development to which he refers. I understand that the submissions have been received and are currently being assessed by Donegal VEC.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The guidance given to the 66 awarding authorities, the local authorities and VECs, in relation to the application of the distance criterion, for determining whether the adjacent or non-adjacent rate of grant applied, provided for the measurement of the shortest most direct route to the institution from the normal residence. The awarding authorities were best positioned to interpret the...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy is referring to the General Allocation Model (GAM) of additional teaching supports which are allocated to all Primary schools to cater for children with high incidence special educational needs. As I have previously advised the Deputy, differing pupil teacher ratios are applied under the GAM in relation to boys, girls and mixed schools in order to account for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. Following completion of Stage 2a (Developed Sketch Design) and assuming no issues arise, the project will then proceed to stage 2(b) which includes planning permission and the preparation of tender documents. Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on the Stage 1 Submission (Preliminary Sketch Design) and, when complete, the school will forward this submission to my Department for review. Due to competing demands on the Departments capital budget imposed by the need to prioritise...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. The Design Team have just recently completed the Stage 2a Submission (Developed Sketch Design), which has been forwarded by the school to my Department for review. Following completion of this review and assuming no issues arise, the project will then proceed to stage 2(b) which...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Education Initiatives: Cross-Border Education Initiatives (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: At the NSMC Education meeting held at Farmleigh House, Dublin on Friday 15 June 2012, the Ministerial Council considered the progress made towards the development of a questionnaire and mechanisms for a joint attitudinal survey to inform cross-border pupil movement and school planning; agreed the planned next steps for the conduct of the survey including finalisation of survey questions,...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that in primary schools, including schools in the DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) programme, teaching supports for pupils with special education needs are provided though two channels. Under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, schools are resourced to cater for pupils whose educational psychological assessment...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Details of the current funding allocated to each Vocational Educational Committee in 2011 are listed in the attached table. These allocations enabled the VECs to provide a broad range of educational services. In addition to providing post-primary education and further and adult education, VECs also have responsibilities in areas such as community education, training for early school leavers,...

Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In October 2011 the General Scheme of an Education and Training Boards Bill was referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education. The General Scheme was also published at that time. Following discussions with this Department and relevant stakeholders, the Committee prepared a report which I responded to at a meeting of the Committee on 25 January 2012. The...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Responsibility for the management and delivery of the two projects referred to by the Deputy was devolved to the school management authorities. I understand the difference in costs arose as one of the schools was allocated funding under my Department's 2007 Small School Scheme to extended and refurbish their existing school building which had difficult site conditions while the other school...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware a new student contribution charge of €2,000 was introduced in higher education by the previous Government with effect from the 2011/2012 academic year. This charge replaced the previous Student Services Charge and applies to all students who currently benefit under the 'free fees' scheme. The Charge is due to increase to €2,250 for the next academic year. The...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware of the Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. Many children with autism are fully integrated into mainstream classes. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) provides additional resource teaching hours and special...

Written Answers — Third Level Staff: Third Level Staff (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The recent report from the Comptroller and Auditor General confirms that over €8 million in unauthorised payments were made to senior university staff over the period June 2005 to February 2011. This is completely unacceptable behaviour and represents a failure in governance in our universities and is a serious breach of public pay policy. Since the formation of the current Government...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that a draft report is currently under consideration by the Implementation Group and that I should receive the report in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A table shows the estimated percentage of new awards made to students from farming backgrounds. This indicative data is subject to considerable qualification for interpretation purposes in relation to its reliability due to, inter alia, the level of undeclared status amongst the returns from the awarding authorities and the provision of accurate and or/adequate information in respect of...

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of third level students who qualified for a student grant in each year for the past five years is detailed in a table. Number of third level students who qualified for a student maintenance grant 2011/12 65,889 * 2010/11 62,366 2009/10 57,233 2008/09 47,751 2007/08 46,632 * Provisional figure

Written Answers — Third Level Funding: Third Level Funding (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together. The internal budget allocation between various headings within higher education institutions is a matter for each institution. My Department has no role in this matter and therefore the information sought by the Deputy is not available to the Department. The Higher Education Authority has put in place an agreed framework with the higher...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and I will arrange for it to be forwarded to him.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (19 Jul 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the review of allowances in the public service which is ongoing at the moment is being conducted by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and I understand that the Minister intends to bring proposals to Government shortly.