Results 11,401-11,420 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy contacted my Department in December 2010 regarding a proposed extension. Following communications between my officials and the school, an application for major capital works was furnished to my Department in July 2011. This application is being assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large-scale building...
- Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that a new 12 classroom school is currently under construction to facilitate the amalgamation of the boys' and girls' schools in the area to which he refers. The school authority had confirmed to my Department that the scale of the project would meet its needs for the foreseeable future. However, the school has now submitted an application for additional...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: Details of the number of the student grant applications received and processed by Dublin City Council for the 2011/12 academic year are contained in the attached document. This information, which was provided to my Department by Dublin City Council, is as at 4 November 2011. The Deputy will be pleased to know that plans are well under way to replace the 66 grant awarding bodies with one...
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. Circular...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. A list of 453 successful schools was announced on 30 March 2011. Applications from schools for gas, mechanical and electrical works were prioritised under the Summer Works Scheme funding this year and I regret that the application made by the school in question was not selected....
- Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I, along with my colleagues in Government, recognise the importance of ensuring that students from a Protestant background can attend a school that reflects their denominational ethos. At this point I do not propose to give any specific commitment on the allocation of teachers to schools for the 2012/13 school year. The number of teaching posts that we can afford to fund in schools is a...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I regret that I am not in a position to reverse or vary any of the changes to the student grant scheme introduced by the last Government under Budget 2011 because the savings from these measures had been factored into the public expenditure programme for 2011 by that Government. However, while a qualifying student may receive a lower rate of grant for the 2011/12 academic year, he/she will...
- Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: My Department received an application for replacement furniture from the school in question. This application has been considered by my Department. However, in light of the competing demands on the available budget, it is not possible to approve funding to replace existing furniture at this time.
- Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The USA is a priority market for the promotion of international education. I myself visited Chicago in July to address a gathering of over 100 US universities at the National Association of Fellowship Advisors to highlight Ireland as a centre for international study. The UK is not a priority market for recruitment of international students, and no promotional activities are planned in that...
- Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: Quality assurance processes in Irish higher education institutions operate to best international standards. Universities are primarily responsible for their own quality assurance procedures and have delegated their statutory obligations in relation to reviewing and reporting on the effectiveness of their procedures to the Irish Universities Quality Board (IUQB). In the institutes of...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Back to Education Allowance is a Department of Social Protection scheme. The vocational training opportunities scheme is administered by VECs. My Department understands from the Department of Social Protection and the relevant VEC that the student in question has not applied for either allowance.
- Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the General Allocation Model (GAM) was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs. Teaching allocations to primary schools under the GAM have...
- Written Answers — Asbestos Remediation Programme: Asbestos Remediation Programme (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: An application under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme for the removal of asbestos floor tiles and the provision of new floor covering has been received from the school referred to by the Deputy. Additional information is being sought from the school in question and as soon as this information is received further consideration will be given to the school application.
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The Gross Voted Expenditure Allocation for my Department for 2011 is â¬8,888 million, made up of Current Expenditure of â¬8,387 million and Capital Expenditure of â¬501 million. Up to the end of October 2011 estimated expenditure of â¬7,181 million has been incurred, made up of â¬6,813 million in Current expenditure and â¬368 million in Capital expenditure.
- Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: 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 allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This now...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a student's grant awarding body. Where a grant awarding authority turns down an application and subsequently rejects an appeal, the applicant may appeal this decision to my Department or to the Student Grants Appeal Board, as appropriate. No appeal has been received in my Department from the student to date. I am not,...
- Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, the reality of our economic situation presents significant challenges that have to be reconciled with limitations on public resources. This is a very stark reality, which, unfortunately, means that changes to any public service, including the student grant scheme, cannot be ruled out. I empathise with students and I am very conscious of the fundamental role...
- Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together. In respect of question 185 I can confirm to the Deputy that since my appointment as Minister for Education and Skills I have not appointed a former Government office holder to any position. In respect of question 184 I can confirm that: - In relation to bodies currently under the aegis of my Department one former Government office...
- Seanad: Reform of Junior Certificate: Statements (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: It was honours and pass.
- Seanad: Reform of Junior Certificate: Statements (8 Nov 2011)
Ruairi Quinn: I will try to address most of the points. If possible I will try to write to Senators in response to some comments. A lot of concern was expressed about buy-in by teachers, particularly on the question of assessment. As I said, unless the examination changes nothing else will change. I am acutely aware of the reservations. One senator asked a specific question on the examination proposals....