Results 11,661-11,680 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (11 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together. 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...

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

Ruairi Quinn: In November 2010, my officials sought information regarding head office accommodation from VECs the subject of merger proposals, including the VEC referred to by the Deputy. Information provided by Co Offaly VEC on foot of that request, indicates that its head office has 766.63 square meters of office space with capacity for a total of 44 staff, that the lease has approximately 15 years and...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly, I wish to reiterate this Government's commitment to the provision of resources for children with special educational needs. The Programme for Government sets out that education will be a priority for this Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. Approximately 15% of the entire budget of my...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy applied to my Department for funding under the Summer Works Scheme 2011. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand, it was not possible to grant aid all applications for funding under the Summer Works and Jobs Initiative Schemes. My Department has no record of receiving an application from the school for funding under the Emergency...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: No decisions have yet been taken regarding the payment of the primary school minor works grant in the current school year. Payment last issued in November 2010 in respect of the school year 2010/2011.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As 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 the establishment of special classes and for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE has sanctioned a new class for children with autism in the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers made an application recently to my Department for capital funding for major capital works. This application is currently being assessed and my Department will be in further contact with the school when this process has been completed. The current status of all projects on the school building programme may be viewed on my Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department are liaising with the relevant stakeholders in relation to the appointment of a completion contractor. While it is not possible at this stage to give a definite date, it is envisaged that construction will re-commence before the end of this year.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. As neither my Department nor the independent Appeals Boards has received an appeal from the student in question, it would appear that a decision on her application is still pending. I would advise the student to make contact with her grant awarding...

Written Answers — Caiteachas Caipitil: Caiteachas Caipitil (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá leithdháileadh caipitil 2011 i gcomhair bunscoileanna agus iarbhunscoileanna comhcheangailte in aon fho-mhírcheann amháin agus is fiú€418m é. Tá€240m de sannta go sealadach don earnáil bhunoideachais agus tá€193m de sin caite go nuige seo. Is é an sannadh sealadach don earnáil iarbhunoideachais ná€178m agus tá€106m de sin caite go nuige seo i mbliana.

Written Answers — Oibreacha Feabhsúcháin do Scoileanna: Oibreacha Feabhsúcháin do Scoileanna (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Tá an scoil dá dtagraíonn an Teachta tar éis iarratas a chur faoi bhráid mo Roinne le déanaí ar oibreacha móra feabhsúcháin caipitil. Táthar ag measúnú an iarratais faoi láthair agus beidh mo Roinnse i dteagmháil arís leis an scoil nuair a bheidh an próiseas seo curtha i gcrích. Is féidir amharc ar stádas reatha gach uile tionscadail ar an gclár tógala scoile ar...

Written Answers — Student Support Schemes: Student Support Schemes (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I regret that the economic circumstances of the country are such that I am not in a position to reverse or vary any of the changes to the student grant scheme announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil - Green Party Government. These changes include the removal of the automatic entitlement of mature students to the non-adjacent rate of grant, which is the subject matter of the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In June of this year I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established within the next six years, comprising of twenty new primary schools and twenty new post-primary schools to cater for the increase in school going population across these identified locations. It is not proposed to open a new primary school in the general Dublin 6 area as the demographics of the area do not...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter for a student's 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 in relation means, residency, nationality and previous academic attainment, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a student would qualify...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The outcome to the student grant appeal to which the Deputy refers was communicated by my Department to the student on 7 June 2011. Further correspondence was subsequently received and a response to this issued on 4 October 2011.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are two alternative methods of tendering (the Restricted procedure and the Open procedure). In both procedures there are minimum standards for participation (including previous experience, turnover, insurances, capacity to obtain a bond etc). The minimum standards for participation are stated in the Contract notice/eTenders advertisement. For less complex projects of a small to medium...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. 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...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: One Value for Money Review on Small Primary Schools is currently underway and is expected to be completed by year end. However, no costs have been incurred to date in 2011 and none are envisaged. The estimated figure for expenditure on consultancies by my Department in 2011 is in the region of €429,000.

Written Answers — Third Level Charges: Third Level Charges (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 91 and 110 together. 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...

Written Answers — Student Assistance Fund: Student Assistance Fund (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 103, 105, 114 and 115 together. The management of the Third Level Access Measures Fund rests with the Higher Education Authority and the allocation of funding for the various access measures, one of which is the Student Assistance Fund, is a matter for that authority. Some €15.3m is available in the Fund overall to support individual students under...