Results 10,921-10,940 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will appreciate that the information requested by him is not held by my Department, as such cases are a matter for County Cork VEC. My officials have contacted the VEC and have ascertained that it would require an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile the information sought.

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the outcome of the case referred to is currently the subject of a judicial review application before the High Court. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter at this time.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, approval has been given for the opening of a new gaelscoil under the patronage of An Foras Pátrúnachta in Dublin 15 in September 2012. The new school will serve the Mulhuddart Area. Arrangements for accommodation for this school are currently being advanced by my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The information requested is not currently available. My Department's officials will collate the relevant material and I will forward a final response to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department incurs expenditure on public advertisements in connection with a wide range of educational programmes and schemes including, staff appointments in the education sector; invitations to attend local hearings; invitations to forward submissions on education-related schemes/projects; invitations to tender for school building projects. The amount of money (to the nearest thousand...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (14 Dec 2011)

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 it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify for a student grant. However, to satisfy the terms and conditions of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware from my previous response to him in September that this project is at an advanced stage of the tender process. The project's Design Team is currently addressing a number of technical issues that have arisen in relation to access to the site. These issues need to be resolved before the project can progress to construction.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (14 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy was included in the School Buildings Work Programme for 2011 announced last January and the process of appointing a Design Team will commence shortly. The current position of all projects on the school building programme, including this project may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie. Details in...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware the website referred to was created by Ordinance Survey Ireland (OSI) and Twelve Horses (a digital agency specialising in online services) and therefore is not under the remit of my Department. My Department has been in contact with both the CSO and OSI in relation to the specific education provision information that it will be making available to the operators of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 107 and 108 together. Since I took office I have appointed 2 Special Advisers, a Personal Assistant and a Personal Secretary in accordance with the revised conditions for Ministerial Appointments as published by the Department of Finance on the 24th, March 2011. The Minister of State at my Department has similarly appointed a Personal Secretary and Personal...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The table details the number of student grant applications, both new and renewals, that were deemed ineligible for a grant by the 66 grant awarding authorities for the 2010/2011 academic year. The information has been supplied to my Department by the grant awarding authorities – local authorities and VECs - as at 21st January 2011. Refusals by Awarding Authority for 2010/11 Academic...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: While difficult choices had to be made to identify savings across my Department's budget, the Government has tried to protect front line services in 2012. The Government has protected the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level, prioritised targeted support for the most disadvantaged schools and maintained the overall number of resource teachers and SNAs to support children with special needs....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Dec 2011)

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

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This case was reviewed by my Department and it issued its decision on 8 December 2011. The delay was due to the complexity of the case.

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have asked my officials to conduct an analysis of the potential extent and nature of the Exchequer investment, including funding for teacher posts, in the fee-charging schools. The specific analysis to be conducted by my Department will involve looking at the level of the tuition fee income based on fee rates and pupil numbers. It will take account of Exchequer investment foregone (in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Status: Disadvantaged Status (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Given the scale of our economic crisis, adjustments have had to be made across all areas of the public sector. Despite this challenge, the Government has sought to do this in as fair a way as possible. We have protected the pupil-teacher ratio at primary level, prioritised targeted support for the most disadvantaged schools and maintained the overall number of resource teachers and SNAs to...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department have been in discussions with Co. Wicklow VEC regarding a permanent site for the school to which he refers. However, given the sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, I am not in a position to comment further at this time. The acquisition of a site and the delivery of the school building project will be...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 139, 142, 168 to 170, inclusive together. As part of the Budget decisions announced last week, the number of pupils required to gain and retain a teaching post in small primary schools will be gradually increased between September 2012 and September 2014. The schools concerned are those with four or less classroom teachers. The pupil thresholds for...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 to 119, inclusive, together. While there is no basis in law, catchment boundaries have their origins in the establishment of free post-primary education in the late 1960's and were determined following consultation with local educational interests. For planning purposes the country was divided into geographic districts each with several primary schools...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (13 Dec 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The question of enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. This may result, however, in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. It is the responsibility of the managerial...