Results 11,681-11,700 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 111 together. The reality of the economic situation and the public expenditure corrections which must be made present challenges to the Higher Education sector. Future demand for participation growth needs to be reconciled with limitations on public resources and a need to protect and enhance core quality. Although the nature of these difficult...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The 2011 current funding provision for the higher education sector, which is in the region of €1.2 billion, is down 7% on the allocation for 2010. This reduction is a net 3% when additional income from the new Student Contribution charge of €2,000 is taken into account. Pay expenditure represents approximately 70% of total current expenditure in the sector. This represents a...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 97 and 106 together. 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 schemes announced in Budget 2011 by the previous Government because that Government had factored the savings from these measures into the public expenditure programme for 2011. The...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: From the details supplied, it appears that the Deputy is referring to proof of independent residency to allow a student to be assessed as an independent mature student. Firstly, to enable such an assessment, a student must be at least twenty three years of age on the first of January of the year of entry or re-entry to an approved course. Assuming that is the case, the documentary evidence...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to schools is published annually on my Department's website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule for the 2011-2012 school year was published on my...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 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 and an increase in the qualifying...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Student Grant Scheme, an approved course is defined as a full-time undergraduate course of at least two years duration or a full-time postgraduate course of not less than one year duration pursued in an approved institution. I regret that given the level of demand on the funding available to me for student grants I have no plans at present to extend the scope of the student grant...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In general, students who previously pursued a course of study are not eligible for grant assistance for a second period of study at the same level, which appears to be the case here, irrespective of whether or not a grant was paid previously. Subject to the conditions of the student grant scheme, grants are available where students are progressing to a course at a higher level. The...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (5 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 — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Yesterday I decided and announced 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 headquarters for the newly merged Carlow/Kilkenny VEC will be located in Carlow Town.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department's main intervention in pre-school services is the Early Start Programme which is a targeted programme for children aged 3-4 who are at risk of educational disadvantage. My Department doesn't fund the Early Education Centre referred to by the Deputy. I understand that this Early Education Centre is funded by the HSE and as this is a direct service provision, the matter has been...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department increased the duration of the studies break requirement in the 2010 student grant schemes and onwards from one year to three years. This was done because, in some cases, students who would not otherwise have qualified for a grant on the basis of parental income were availing of a 'gap year' which had the effect of creating a break in studies. The break in studies clause as it...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Student Support Act provides the Minister with the power to regulate for different classes of applicants. This power would enable me, if there are compelling reasons and adequate resources to do so, to consider extending the circumstances where a student could be assessed without reference to parental income. My Department will review the circumstances where a means assessment independent...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assume that the Deputy is referring to potential changes to the student grant scheme under the Budget for 2012. The Deputy will appreciate that the preparation of the Estimates for any Budget is carried out on a strictly confidential basis and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on specific issues or proposals, including those relating to student grants, in advance of the Budget...

Written Answers — Higher Education Funding: Higher Education Funding (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This year my Department is providing some €1.2 billion in current funding to the higher education sector. The reality of the economic situation presents challenges for the higher education sector. Future demand for participation growth needs to be reconciled with limitations on public resources and a need to protect and enhance core quality. While the nature of these difficult trade-offs...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: A value for money review on small primary schools is currently underway in my Department. This review is part of the normal review processes undertaken by all Departments on an annual basis on selected areas of expenditure and is being conducted in line with the standard procedure for value for money reviews. The review is expected to be completed by the end of the year and a report should...

Seanad: Springboard Initiative (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I have listened with some interest to what she has said. I note the question that was specifically put to me relates to whether the person in question can get funding under the springboard initiative. Therefore, my official reply will be restricted to that, but I will pursue it beyond the points raised by the Senator. Let me, however, read into...

Seanad: Springboard Initiative (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: That is my understanding.

Seanad: Springboard Initiative (5 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I have received the documentation from the Senator and will be in contact with her directly.

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (4 Oct 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. Special Needs Assistants are paid on 12 point salary scale ranging from €23,188 to €35,919 for those whose first appointment was prior to 1st January 2011 (full details in Circular 05/2010 hereunder). For those Special Needs Assistants whose first appointment was on or after 1st January 2011, the salary scale ranges from €20,869 to...