Results 9,481-9,500 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Enrolments: Schools Enrolments (29 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The attached document provides the relevant details of all appointments (and re-appointments) made to bodies under the aegis of my Department without advertisement since my appointment as Minister. In addition, in accordance with Government policy, expressions of interest have been sought through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) from suitably qualified and experienced persons for...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, the school he refers to has previously refused two substantial grants offered to address accommodation issues namely in 2003 under the Small Schools Initiative and in 2006 under the Small Schools Scheme. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will...

Written Answers — Teaching Council of Ireland: Teaching Council of Ireland (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. The Teaching Council was established in March 2006 to promote teaching as a profession and the professional development of teachers, to maintain and improve the quality of teaching in the State, to provide for the establishment of standards, policies and procedures for the education and training of teachers, to provide for the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that context, it was not possible to advance all applications for...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, last June, I launched a discussion paper on school enrolment. The document, "Discussion Paper on a Regulatory Framework for School Enrolment" contains suggestions on how to make the process of enrolling in schools more open, equitable and consistent. I have made it clear that the paper was not meant to be prescriptive, nor have any decisions been made as to what...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 120 together. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major school projects to meet the demographic demands nationally will be the main focus for capital investment in schools in the coming years. The five year programme announced recently is focused on meeting those demographic needs. In that...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment.My Department has published the staffing arrangements at primary and post primary level for the coming school year, 2012/13. The relevant circulars, Primary 0007/2012 and Post Primary 0009/2012 are available on my Department's website. At post primary level and in accordance...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for large scale capital funding for a building project for this school. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a band 2 rating. In view of the need to ensure that every child has access to a school place, the delivery of major...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: While the Government has tried to protect front line services, difficult choices had to be made to identify savings across all Departments, in line with the requirements of the EU-IMF programme of support for Ireland. Achieving savings in education is particularly difficult given the significant increases in the overall number of pupils in our schools. Notwithstanding this the Government...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (28 Mar 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 is available on my...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, provisional recognition was initially awarded to the school in question in 2008. This temporary recognition was subject to the usual rules and procedures applicable to new primary schools. The provisional recognition period has been extended to 30 June 2012. As part of the granting of provisional recognition it was agreed that the Inspectorate would evaluate the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 to 125, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is in the following table. Name of external property consultant, surveyor and estate agent 2009 2010 2011 Total Jordan Estate Agent, Auctioneers, Chartered Surveyors and Valuers €1,215.00 €1,215.00 CCM Property Network €182.35 €182.35 DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald Ltd. €27,422.55...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: An analysis of the financial management system for my Department shows that no payments were made to the firm in question during the period 1 September 2008 to March 26th 2012. With regard to agencies under the aegis of my Department and other educational organisations under the remit of the Department, the information requested by the Deputy is not held centrally by my Department and would...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (28 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: With regard to office accommodation, the Office of Public Works (OPW) acts as an agent for all Government Departments and is responsible for the provision of Government offices from the State portfolio or by lease agreement. The terms of the leases are a matter for the OPW. Accordingly my Department does not own any office properties. In addition none of the non-commercial bodies under the...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: As I announced last December, the means test for student grants will be amended to take account of the value of certain capital assets as well as income for the 2013/14 academic year. A dedicated Capital Asset Test implementation group has been established. The group has been charged with bringing forward detailed implementation proposals on new means testing arrangements for student grants,...

Written Answers — Home Tuition: Home Tuition (27 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Home Tuition scheme provides funding to parents to provide for education at home 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 including eligible pre-school children with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Eligibility for...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (27 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the decision on eligibility for grant assistance is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority - a local authority or VEC. Further to my answer in this case to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 13 March 2012, officials of my Department have been in contact with the VEC concerned. I understand that the applicant applied through the grants online facility...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (27 Mar 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The issues raised by the Deputy are being examined by officials from my Department and a reply will issue direct to the Deputy.

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 184 together. The staffing arrangements for the 2012/13 school year are set out in Primary Circular 0007/2012 which is available on my Department's website. The new arrangements incorporate a long overdue updating of the GAM (learning support) allocation for all schools. From September 2012 the combined resources available for GAM (General Allocation...