Results 11,521-11,540 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — National Internship Scheme: National Internship Scheme (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department issued Circular 46/2011 earlier this month for schools wishing to participate in JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme. Schools or VECs who identify a potential internship opportunity will need to identify a mentor, apply online to advertise that internship and, once approved, the National Employment Service will place the advertisement on the Jobbridge website....

Written Answers — National Internship Scheme: National Internship Scheme (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 197 together. Teachers participating in JobBridge, the National Internship Scheme, are eligible to participate in the probationary process subject to the provisions of circular 0047/2011 "Probationary Requirements for Registration Purposes for Primary Teachers". Teachers who secure an internship placement should apply to Limerick Education Centre using...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The processing of student grants is carried out by local grant awarding authorities – VECs and local authorities. The students in question should, therefore, contact Mayo VEC to ascertain the position regarding their grant applications.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Technical Guidance Document (TGD) 008 (Engaging Professional Consultants for Small Works)" which is available on my Department's website is one of a large suite of guidance documents published by my Department. This particular document is provided to assist school authorities with the engagement of consultants and to ensure that any consultants employed are competent and qualified in the...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A new student contribution of €2,000 was introduced in higher education institutions by the previous Government with effect from the 2011/12 academic year. The student contribution replaces the Student Services Charge and applies to all students who benefit under the free fees scheme. In recognition of the financial pressures that the student contribution may place on families, my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The economic circumstances of the country are such that 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 Deputy's Government under Budget 2011. However, students in exceptional financial circumstances can apply for assistance under the Student Assistance Fund. Information on the Fund is available through the access...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Major Building Project referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of Architectural Planning. The Design Team are currently working on finalising the Stage 2a submission (Developed Sketch Design) which is expected to be submitted to my Department shortly. When this submission is received, it will be reviewed by my Department and my officials will then be in contact with...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that a major building project is being advanced for the school in question. The accommodation brief for the project is currently being finalised and the next step, following completion of this process, involves the appointment of a Design Team. There are certain constraints relating to the site in terms of a protected structure and associated conservation issues....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy may be aware of the decision of the previous Government to implement a recruitment and promotion moratorium in the public sector, which is binding upon all Government departments, non-commercial state bodies and agencies. In respect of Vocational Education Committees, including Co Wexford VEC, positions other than teacher and SNA posts in schools, and teacher equivalents that...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that the grant awarding authorities do not collate information on the number of independent mature students in receipt of the various rates of student grant. The rates of grant effective from January 2011 are: .......................................Non-Adjacent Rate.........Adjacent Rate Full Maintenance........................€3,120................. .....€1,250 Part Maintenance...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. The BTEA scheme was established to assist people who have been out of the workforce for some time and whose opportunities of obtaining employment would be enhanced by participation in the scheme. In this regard, I understand that there is a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The total expenditure in 2010 incurred by my Department on ICT, including staff costs was € 8,246,061. This figure represents expenditure by my Department only. The information sought in relation to all agencies under the aegis of the Department is not readily available and would involve an inordinate amount of administrative time to compile. However, if the Deputy has any particular...

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (25 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: 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 feeding into a post-primary centre with one or more post-primary schools. The intention was and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As previously outlined to the Deputy home tuition was approved for the child in question from the start of the school year until the 14th October 2011 for the purpose of completing the enrolment process. The school authorities concerned have advised that the child has been enrolled and my officials will now liaise further with the school to determine the appropriate extension of home tuition...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The processing of student grants is carried out by local grant awarding authorities – VECs and local authorities. In this case, the student in question should apply to his grant awarding authority for an assessment of his eligibility for a repeat period of study. However, grants for repeat periods of study are only allowed in exceptional circumstances, which may include medical grounds.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating teaching staff and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to special schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support, which now...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (20 Oct 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. This now...

Written Answers — Physical Education Facilities: Physical Education Facilities (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has no record of having received an application for the installation of a soft surface playground at the school to which the Deputy refers. Any application received will be considered in the context of the funding available and having regard to other competing demands on the Department's capital budget.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The inaugural Student Grants Appeals Board was established on the 19th of September, 2011. This Appeals Board was established pursuant to the provisions of the Student Support Act 2011 and it will be independent in the performance of its functions. Its establishment will allow students that have applied for a grant under the 2011/12 student grant scheme and subsequent schemes to have any...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 72 together. My Department has not received any complaints regarding the operation of the centre referred to by the Deputy. I understand that a request for funding for this centre under the Co-operation Hours Scheme for the current school year and just recently received in my Department has now been processed. Kildare VEC has been notified in this regard.