Results 1,161-1,180 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including matters related to the recruitment and appointment of contract staff. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations including matters related to the recruitment and appointment of contract staff. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school referred to has not submitted an application for additional accommodation to my Department. My Department's over riding objective is to prioritise available funding to meet demographic demand and to provide essential classroom accommodation where additional teachers are approved. In that context, it is open to the school in question to make an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Employment Initiative (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Ireland's allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative covers the years 2014 and 2015. However, under terms of the EU Regulations (Article 136 of 1303/2013), Ireland has an additional three years beyond 2015 to spend the full allocation, should we need it.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Employment Initiative (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Ireland's allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative is €68.145m. , which will be matched by €68.145m from the European Social Fund and this requires to be matched by another €68.145m from the Exchequer.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school, to which he refers, has submitted an application for devolved funding for additional accommodation including four mainstream classrooms, two SET rooms and a larger GP room to meet projected future expansion to 2017/18. Given the current financial constraints within which my Department is operating, the position is that priority is being given...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The recommendations contained in the recent report referred to by the Deputy are relevant to the work which is ongoing between my Department and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) in relation to the future funding policy for higher education. This builds upon the substantial amount of work already undertaken by the HEA. The objective is to identify a range of approaches that, combined,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports, including the allocation of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the school to which he refers has been approved significant devolved funding for the provision of an on-suite mainstream classroom, special needs facilities and a Resource Room. In addition, funding has been approved to provide disabled access ramps at the front entrance and to the rear play area of the school in question.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that on 20th March last I announced that 386 schools have been approved funding under the Summer Works scheme to undertake school improvements. This first round of funding will allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works across three categories of projects - Gas, Electrical and Mechanical. A second round of the scheme is expected to be announced...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Expenditure (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: This Government has sought, against the continuing challenging economic backdrop, to protect education spending and maintain frontline education services as far as possible, including targeting support at schools in those areas with the most concentrated levels of educational disadvantage. While dealing with the economic realities has required the implementation of some difficult savings...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Expenditure (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs. The level of resources devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been maintained and increased for this school year. This now includes provision for up to 10,965 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs), over 10,700 Learning Support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Standards (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The education sector's contribution to Ireland's economic recovery and international competitiveness lies in ensuring that the system meets Ireland's human capital needs. The economy requires an output of creative, adaptive skilled individuals. As enterprise sectors develop and expand, demand for employees with core technical and specialist expertise across a range of disciplines...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Places (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, SOLAS, the new Further Education and Training Authority, was established in October 2013. SOLAS has recently submitted for my consideration a draft integrated Further Education & Training Services Plan for 2014, which was prepared with the full co-operation and participation of the 16 Education & Training Boards (ETBs). It provides, for the first...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Youth Unemployment Measures (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The development of Ireland's Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan was co-ordinated by my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. My Department had a key role to play in contributing to the development of the Plan. There are five main approaches being taken to tackle youth unemployment: education, training, job search assistance/guidance, work experience, and encouraging job creation....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Application Numbers (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. The current status of all projects, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ieand this will be updated regularly throughout the year. The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Numbers (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Government has protected frontline services in schools and there will be no reduction in teacher numbers in primary schools and in free second level schools for the 2014/15 school year as a result of the budget. The DEIS scheme for disadvantaged schools is also fully protected with no overall changes to staffing levels or funding as a result of the budget. Teacher allocations are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The policy basis which informs the Government's education and training provision includes the National Skills Strategy, the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation, the Report of the Task Force on Innovation, the National Strategy for Higher Education to 2030, the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. In addition to the wide range of cross-cutting policy structures and forums for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland Administration (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: For the 2013/14 academic year the grants administration process has undergone significant development to enhance its effectiveness and deal with the difficulties experienced in its first year of operation. SUSI implemented a number of initiatives recommended by an independent review. These included direct information sharing with Government bodies and other agencies including the Revenue...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Application Numbers (9 Apr 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: At the close of business on 6th April 2014, SUSI has provided the following data in relation to new applications for the 2013/2014 academic year. A total of 68,570 applications were received, of which 68,221 assessments were completed. 42 applications are awaiting assessment. SUSI are awaiting documentation in relation to 307 applications. In relation to the 68,221 assessments, 39,014 are...