Results 8,401-8,420 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The student grant scheme does not extend to third level courses pursued outside the EU. Students undertaking postgraduate studies may however, be eligible for tax relief for tuition fees. Details in relation to this are available from the applicant's local tax office or on www.revenue.ie.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 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 2a submission (Developed Sketch Design) of the design process. The project is included on the 5 year construction programme and is scheduled to proceed to tender and construction in 2014/2015.

Written Answers — Third Level Grants: Third Level Grants (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form and supporting documentation, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student should qualify for the special rate of maintenance grant....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The capital allocation available in 2012 under the principal subhead for primary and post-primary schools amounts to €357m of which €148.7m has been expended to date. In percentage terms expenditure has reached 42% of the 2012 allocation and this compares with an expenditure level at the end of the equivalent month in 2011 of 34%, in 2010 of 18% and in 2009 of 23%.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: For purposes of the 5 Year Plan announced in March 2012, new school building projects as well as major extensions have been prioritised on the basis of meeting demographic needs in areas where such needs have been identified. In addition, school building projects that were not included in the 5 Year Plan and that are currently in architectural planning will continue to progress through the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Study Leave scheme previously in place provided for teachers to avail of paid leave of absence, subject to a maximum of 2 school years, in order to pursue their studies, while imposing an obligation on the teacher to re-imburse the school for the costs involved in employing a replacement teacher. It is my Department's experience that such costs imposed financial hardship on individuals on...

Written Answers — Emergency Works Scheme: Emergency Works Scheme (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme. This application was refused as the scope of works for which funding was sought was outside the terms of the scheme. An appeal has recently been received and is currently being examined by my Department. The school authority will be notified of the decision as soon as possible.

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2012-2013 school year, Circular 0007/2012, is...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March of this year I announced a five year construction programme which outlined all of the major school building projects at primary and post-primary level which have been scheduled to commence construction over that timeframe. The five year plan outlines when the major projects will proceed to construction. These projects comprise: 106 new schools at primary level 65 large-scale...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In March of this year, I announced a Five Year construction programme which outlined 275 major school building projects at primary and post-primary level which have been scheduled to commence construction over that timeframe. The details in relation to all of these projects, including those currently under construction, may be accessed on my Department's web-site www.education.ie.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly, I wish to advise the Deputy that The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports including Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The staffing schedule is the mechanism used for the allocation of classroom teachers to all primary schools. It operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all similar types of schools equally irrespective of location. The configuration of classes and the deployment of classroom teachers are done at local school level. My Department publishes annual statistics on class size data for...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June of last year I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years to meet our increased demographics. Included in that announcement is a new post-primary school planned for Maynooth, Co. Kildare which is scheduled to commence operation in September 2014. I also announced new arrangements for the recognition and determination of patronage of these new...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In June of last year I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years to meet increasing demographics across a number of locations. On 12 March this year I announced the Major Building Projects to be undertaken over the next five years. These announcements include a number of projects in the areas referred to by the Deputy. My Department will continue to...

Written Answers — Student Retention Rates: Student Retention Rates (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The extent of student dropout at second level is published by my Department in the reports titled Retention Rates of Pupils in Second Level Schools. See link to the reports on my Department's website http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=17216&ecateg ory=46598&language=EN The most recently published data, for the cohort who entered the Junior Cycle in 2004, and sat the Leaving...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has received an application for an extension from the school in question which has been assigned a Band 2 rating. The application includes, inter alia, for the replacement of an assembly hall. The Deputy will appreciate however that in view of the financial constraints imposed by the need, as outlined in the Five Year Plan, to prioritise available funding for the provision of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The cost of ministerial transport for 2009, 2010 and 2011 was €111,495.46, €101,973.61 and €158,723.17 respectively. These figures include the salary of the civilian drivers, their subsistence costs and the amount of travel and subsistence paid to the Minister and the Minister of State. The Government decided that with effect from the 1st, May 2011 Cabinet ministers would no longer be...

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I share the concerns expressed by the Deputy. The crisis in literacy and numeracy in the primary school system and the results that emerged from the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment, PISA, demanded a national response. I published that national response in June 2011. Over time, the cost of that response, including the additional year of teaching for primary school...

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Money is a significant factor but it is not simply money alone. English speaking countries, principally Ireland and Britain, are far behind other countries in languages for a host of reasons. This applies not only within schools. A young person spends only 15% of his or her time in school. The remainder of the time is spent at home or outside at play or whatever. In some countries,...

School Curriculum (27 Jun 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Project Maths is currently being phased in at post-primary schools. The textbook is one of many tools a teachers uses to support the delivery of the curriculum. Project Maths emphasises a range of skills that are beyond the scope of any textbook. Successful implementation depends on the skills and pedagogical knowledge of teachers which are developed through continuing professional...