Results 12,001-12,020 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: This year my Department is providing some €41 million to support research activities across a range of programmes, including schemes managed by the two research councils, and the technological sector research initiative. As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is undertaking a Comprehensive Expenditure Review across all areas of Government...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I announced my intention to establish a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector on 28th March, 2011. An Advisory Group, under the Chairmanship of Professor John Coolahan, is overseeing the work of the Forum. The terms of reference of the Forum are very specific. They are to advise me on: 1. how it can best be ensured that the education system can provide a sufficiently diverse...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to confirm for the Deputy that 10,575 whole time equivalent (wte) Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts are being provided for primary, post-primary and special schools for the coming school year in order to support the care needs of pupils with disabilities. This is a significant number of posts and unlike other areas of the public sector vacancies are being filled up to this number....

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a grant is a matter for a student's local grant awarding body – the relevant local authority or VEC. The Deputy will appreciate that in the absence of all of the relevant details that would be contained in an individual's application form, including those relating to distance from home to college, it would not be possible for me to say whether or not a...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The measurement of the distances in question is a matter for grant awarding bodies. It is not possible, therefore, for me to say what the distance calculation or route for an individual student will or should be. However, the shortest most direct route to college is measured. If there is a dispute, this matter should be taken up with the grant awarding authority.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My officials are liaising with the school authorities and other relevant stakeholders on the project to which the Deputy refers. A decision was taken in recent weeks that the Department will re-tender the project directly. It is anticipated that construction work will resume on the project in the coming months.

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The changes to the student grants scheme to which the Deputy refers were introduced by the previous Fianna Fáil – Green Party Government under Budget 2011. These changes alter the qualifying distance criterion for the non-adjacent rate of grant from 24kms to 45kms and remove the automatic entitlement of mature students to the non-adjacent rate of grant. While these measures will result...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly, I wish to explain to 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 primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes the allocation of resource teaching hours to schools as well as the establishment of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 195, inclusive, together. First, I wish to clarify for the Deputy that Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations are not permanent, as the level of SNA support allocated to a school may be increased or decreased as pupils who qualify for SNA support enrol or leave a school. They are also decreased where a child's care needs may have diminished over...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are no changes to the qualifying criteria for the top-up in the special rate of grant for students applying under the 2011 student grant scheme. Students, including single parents, satisfying the criteria will be eligible for the top-up payment.The conditions are: 1. Student must qualify for the ordinary rate of grant. 2. Total reckonable income must not exceed €22,703. 3. On the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The amount spent on renting temporary accommodation at primary and post-primary level, including – but not limited to - prefabricated accommodation in 2010 was €29m. Approximately €24m of this related to prefab rental only. The allocation for 2011 for rental of temporary school accommodation is €29m.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Since July 2008, it is my Department's policy to offer schools being approved for devolved grant aid for additional accommodation the option to use their capital grant aid to build a permanent classroom(s) rather than purchase a prefab. This has reduced the usage of prefabricated accommodation, with the majority of schools opting to build permanent classroom extensions instead of purchasing...

Written Answers — School Refurbishment: School Refurbishment (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The brief for the project referred to by the Deputy is for an extension to the existing school and refurbishment of existing accommodation. The process of appointing a Design Team for the proposed building project is expected to commence shortly. Officials from my Department will be in contact with the school authorities to outline the tendering process for appointment of the design team....

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. My Department's...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The commitment in the Programme for Government is that 'As resources allow, this Government will invest in a targeted early childhood education programme for disadvantaged children, building on existing targeted pre-school supports for families most in need of assistance such as the youngballymun project.' I am aware of the excellent work the youngballymun project does in an area of severe...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The process of appointing a Design Team, for the project referred to by the Deputy, commenced on 26th June last when an advertisement seeking design team consultants was published on the e-tenders website. When the appointment process has been completed, assuming no issues arise, the Design Team will commence architectural planning of the project.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The provision of a new building for the school to which the Deputy refers necessitates the acquisition of a site. I wish to advise the Deputy that a suitable site has been identified for the proposed school and my Department is working with the local authority to acquire this site. When the site is acquired, a project for the school will be considered within the context of my Department's...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has submitted a proposal to my Department to relocate the school to alternative accommodation. My Department will convey a response to the school authority as soon as the proposal has been considered.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has submitted a proposal to my Department to relocate the school to alternative accommodation. My Department will convey a response to the school authority as soon as the proposal has been considered.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Information sought by the Deputy in relation to the period prior to 2004 is not readily available and would involve a very significant amount of administrative time to compile. Since 2004 my Department has made payments of €48,169 to the 'Irish Business and Employers Confederation', arising principally from the provision of staff training and academic programmes, as well as conference fees....