Results 11,621-11,640 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The measurement of the distances for student grant purposes is a matter for grant awarding bodies - the relevant local authority or VEC. There has been no change as to how these distances are measured. As in the past for all cases, the shortest most direct route to the institution attended is measured. I understand that a range of mechanisms can be used, for example, online mapping such as...

Written Answers — Ombudsman for Children: Ombudsman for Children (12 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Office of the Ombudsman for Children was established under the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 by the Minister for Health and Children. On 3rd June 2011 responsibility for the Ombudsman for Children Act 2002 was transferred to the Minster for Children and Youth Affairs. I understand that the Office of the Ombudsman for Children has been in contact with the Department of Children and...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (12 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 70 and 71 together. Last week, I finalised and announced my decision in relation to the location of headquarters of the merged VECs. In arriving at this decision, I considered a range of factors including the need to ensure that the location of a VEC headquarters will, to the greatest extent possible, facilitate staff redeployment under a redeployment...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (12 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Anecdotal evidence indicates that there is an over supply of teachers currently and that there are newly qualified teachers not yet holding teaching positions in schools. My Department has introduced a circular which obliges schools to recruit unemployed teachers ahead of retired ones, in an effort to ease the difficulties for those who cannot find work in the profession. In addition, the...

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Will the Deputy listen?

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Deputy Ross should do himself a favour and stop while he is ahead.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved home tuition from the commencement of the current school year until the 14th October 2011 for the child concerned. The purpose of this provision is to facilitate transitional arrangements for the child to take up a school placement. My Department will consider, as an exceptional measure, extending this period further to facilitate...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection and enrolment of pupils in schools is the responsibility of the authorities of the individual school. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking school places in an area. However, this may result in some pupils not obtaining a place in the school of their first choice. As schools may not have a place...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that when the site acquisition process has been completed the progression of a project for this school, as with all large scale building projects, from initial design stage through to construction phase will be considered in the context of my Department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme with due regard to the demand for increased education...

Written Answers — Residential Institutions Redress Scheme: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government is proceeding with the drafting of the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Bill on the basis of the General Scheme prepared by my Department. These proposals followed extensive consultations with survivors of residential abuse and the groups which support them, together with a public consultation process. The General Scheme, together with a copy of a Report on the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Last week, I announced and published the headquarter locations where VECs are being merged as a result of the Government decision to reduce the number of VECs from 33 to 16. The details are set out in the table. Local Education and Training Board Headquarter location City of Dublin Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (No change) City of Cork and County Cork Cork (greater city area) County Dublin and...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, Part 5 of the Teaching Council Act, 2001 sets out the Council's investigating and disciplinary functions. The Council or any person may apply to the Council's Investigating Committee for an inquiry into the fitness to teach of a registered teacher. When it is deemed appropriate to do so, the Council's Disciplinary Committee will conduct a hearing on a complaint...

Written Answers — Third Level Fees: Third Level Fees (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A new student contribution of €2,000 was introduced in higher education institutions 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 Department requested higher...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Information provided by the VECs to my Department indicates that 13 of the 33 VECs own their headquarter premises, while 20 rent or lease their premises. The following VECs rent or lease their premises: Co. Wexford VEC; Co. Wicklow VEC; Co. Kilkenny VEC; Co. Kildare VEC; Dunlaoghaire VEC; Co. Dublin VEC; City of Galway VEC; Co. Longford VEC; Co. Limerick VEC; Co. Kerry VEC; Co. Waterford...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Students wishing to apply for grant support to attend a full-time course in further education are required to submit a grant application to the VEC in the area where they are normally resident. All applications for financial support are assessed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Student Grant Scheme. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible...

Written Answers — Education Provider Registration: Education Provider Registration (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together. Legislation providing for the dissolution of the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC) and its amalgamation with the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland (NQAI) and the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC) was published in July 2011 and is currently progressing through the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 136 together. The current Employment Control Framework agreed for my Department covers the period 2010 to 2014 and comprehends staff working in a range of bodies and organisations across the education area. Details regarding the framework and the bodies and organisations covered by it are set out in the table. Under the terms of the Framework my...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I issued a Circular in May of this year which requires schools to prioritise teachers over unregistered persons, appropriately qualified teachers over teachers qualified for different sectors, and unemployed teachers over teachers in receipt of a public sector pension. In relation to short-term absences, where all efforts to secure an appropriately qualified and registered teacher who is not...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Financial allocations are made to the VECs on the basis of the financial year rather than the academic year, and are paid as a block grant. VECs are given a high level of autonomy in the management and appropriation of their budgets and each VEC is allowed to distribute its allocations in line with its priorities and perceptions of need. My Department's general and post primary expenditure...

Written Answers — Public Petitions: Public Petitions (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am not in a position to provide the information sought as it is not recorded in the format requested by the Deputy. Petitions tend to be rather voluminous and it would take an inordinate amount of official time to research and compile the information requested. However, if the Deputy has an interest in a particular case I would be happy to provide further details about that matter.