Results 10,721-10,740 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to special needs education it should be noted that there has been no reduction in the number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) which will be available for schools next year, with 10,575 posts remaining available for allocation. There has also been no reduction in the overall number of resource teaching posts which will be available for allocation...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: One Assistant Principal Officer has been assigned as Education and Skills attaché at the Irish Permanent Representation to the European Union. This officer represents the Department in dealings with EU institutions, including the European Commission and European Council working groups which deal with education and skills issues. She also keeps the Department informed of EU policy...

Written Answers — Scéimeanna Scoláireachta: Scéimeanna Scoláireachta (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Mar a d'fhógair mé faoi Bhuiséad 2012, tá sé i gceist scéim aonair nua, stíl sparántachta agus bunaithe ar fhiúntas, a chur in ionad na cúig scéim scoláireachta don Ardoideachas atá ann cheana féin, lena n-áirítear Scoláireacht Sheachtain na Cásca 1916 agus na trí Scoláireacht Gaeilge. Beidh na dámhachtainí faoin scéim nua socraithe ag €2,000 an mac léinn. Beidh an...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A nearby school has been authorised by my Department to explore the possibility of transferring the prefabs in question to its own site for continued use. It is anticipated that the prefabs will be removed from the current site in the very near future.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage 2(b) Submission (Detailed Design) which will then be submitted to my Department for review. The 2012 construction programme was published in December. Following on from this, my Department will shortly...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: Further to my previous reply to the Deputy on this matter, I can confirm that my Department has received legal advice with regard to the proposed land swap as referred to by the Deputy. My Department is agreeable to this land swap and will issue the necessary permissions through the Office the Chief State Solicitor.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together. Conscious of the concerns of some schools that will be adversely affected by the budget measures in relation to the withdrawal of certain posts under previous disadvantage schemes, I announced in the house last Wednesday that I have asked my Department to report to me in four weeks on the impact of the withdrawal of posts under these older...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table. Appointments made to Boards under the aegis of the Department of Education and Skills (by year) Agency 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012( To Date) An Chomhairle um Oideachais Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta 0 0 22 0 0 Commission into Child Abuse 0 0 0 0 0 Education Finance Board 1 9 0 0 0 Foras Áiseanna Saothair (See...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: A full list of schools in county order with their enrolments can be found on my Department's website at the following link http://www.education.ie/home/home.jsp?pcategory=10917&ecateg ory=12016&language=EN.

Written Answers — School Inspection Reports: School Inspection Reports (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I have previously clarified for the Deputy that the Board of Management of the school in question has advised that the recommendations of the HSE report have been implemented in full. My Department remains in regular contact with the school and is satisfied that significant progress has been made in this regard. The Deputy refers to the further report which was compiled subsequent to the HSE...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: The information which the Deputy has requested is available on the Social Inclusion section of my Department's website at following link - http://www.education.ie/servlet/blobservlet/deis_school_list .htm.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 to 94, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the revised arrangements, which will update schools' General Allocation Model (GAM) allocations, based on the number of class teaching posts in schools for the previous year, reflect existing arrangements whereby differing pupil teacher ratios are applied under the GAM in relation to boys, girls...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (18 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: While the areas of responsibility referred to are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, student supports come under my remit. I appreciate the Deputy's concerns. However, this Government has had to take difficult and unpalatable decisions under Budget 2012. For this reason, unfortunately, less support will be available to some students going to college...

School Guidance Counsellors (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "— acknowledges that: — despite the severe economic crisis caused by the actions of previous Fianna Fáil-led Governments, and in the expectation that an additional 70,000 students will enter the education system over the next six years, the Government has ensured that the reduction in teacher...

School Guidance Counsellors (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: I welcome this debate and appreciate that I have an opportunity to clarify to the House the nature of this decision and how it may or will impact. At the outset it is important to recognise the overall financial and budgetary context in which Ireland is operating. We are relying on funding being provided through the EU-IMF programme of support for Ireland for the provision of our day to day...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 2057The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Bill, 2011, which provides for the establishment of the new Authority, was published in July 2011 and Second Stage was taken in the Seanad in September. I hope to establish the new Authority in the first half of the year and it will begin processing new applications for provider registration shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 1The Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET) primarily funds PhD scholarships and early stage postdoctoral fellowships. Selection is on the basis of excellence following assessment by expert independent panels. There is no emphasis on funding one discipline over another and awards are made solely on the basis of academic excellence and in accordance with...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 1The Educational Disadvantage Committee (EDC) was established under Section 32 of the Education Act, 1998. The role of the EDC was to advise the Minister for Education and Science on policies and strategies to be adopted to identify and correct educational disadvantage. The Committee's final report 'Moving Beyond Educational Disadvantage' was published in December 2005. The Government...

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 1A 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 contribution is paid by the Exchequer in respect of students who qualify under the third level...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (17 Jan 2012)

Ruairi Quinn: 1Under the terms of the Ethics Acts, 1995 and 2001 all civil servants serving in a grade of which the maximum salary is not less than the maximum salary of a Principal Officer (General Service Grade) in the Civil Service are required to complete a return in the event they have an interest to declare. In addition to these posts the Department of Public Expenditure, with the assistance of...