Results 12,021-12,040 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. In July 2009, the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that the number of VECs could be reduced from 33 to 22 and aligned with the functional areas of the 22 Local Authorities, also recommended by the Group. In September 2009 the then Minister for Education and Science invited interested parties...

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 residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment, it would not be possible for...

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

Ruairi Quinn: Revised Leaving Certificate syllabi were submitted by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in relation to the four Leaving Certificate technology subjects in 2004. Two of these subjects, Technology and Design and Graphic Communications were introduced in September 2007. The remaining two subjects, Leaving Certificate Engineering Technology and Architectural Technology are...

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

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy may be aware, the delivery of the proposed educational facilities on the site of the former Army Barracks in Monaghan has been devolved to Co. Monaghan VEC. I understand that tenders have been received and are currently being evaluated by Co. Monaghan VEC.

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

Ruairi Quinn: Firstly, I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the existing level of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support is being retained in special schools, other than those whose enrolments have declined significantly, in order to assist and protect the most vulnerable children in the education system. I understand that the school in question will have an allocation of 28 SNAs from September 2011. I...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works has, on behalf of my Department, recently identified site options in the area for the school referred to by the Deputy and these options are under consideration by my Department. The acquisition of a suitable site and the delivery of a new school building will be considered in the context of existing commitments and other competing...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I recently announced that 20 new primary and 20 new post-primary schools are to be established in the next six years across a number of locations, including the area referred to by the Deputy. I also announced the introduction of new arrangements for the recognition of both primary and post-primary schools that will provide an opportunity for all patrons to apply for patronage of these new...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently authorised this project to proceed to construction.

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

Ruairi Quinn: The building project at the School referred to by the Deputy is included in the School Building Works Programme for 2011 which was announced on 24th January 2011. Information, including current status, in relation to all projects on the 2011 Programme is available on my Departments website. Although planning permission has been granted by the Local Authority, this is now subject to a number...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of the tender process. Subject to no issues arising, it is envisaged that the project will progress to construction in the coming months and will take circa 18 months to complete.

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

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that in 2009, a proposed major capital project for the school referred to by the Deputy was announced to proceed through the architectural planning process. Since then, it has not been possible to progress this project due to on-going issues regarding access to the proposed site for the school building project. Officials from my Department are in on-going contact with the school...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers has applied to my Department for large scale capital funding for an extension. The application has been assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects and assigned a Band 1 rating. My Department has reached agreement, in principle, in relation to the proposed acquisition of a site for a permanent...

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

Ruairi Quinn: This matter is currently being considered by my colleague Ms Kathleen Lynch TD who, as Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, has responsibility for equality issues. Minister of State Lynch chairs a sub-committee of the National Women's Strategy Monitoring Committee on Women in Decision Making which is looking at ways to increase the role of women in all areas of...

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

Ruairi Quinn: There are 97 Computer Servers owned by my Department. These servers are located in and provide services to our three main sites in Dublin, Athlone and Tullamore as well as our regional offices and the offices of the National Educational Psychological Service. These servers also host our eGovernment services. My Department does not lease Computer Servers. The storage capacity of the servers...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides grant aid to school authorities for the rental of temporary accommodation and it is the responsibility of the school authority to source such accommodation. Where some level of refurbishment works are required to make the accommodation suitable for school use, the costs may be reflected in the rent charged by the landlord. If the Deputy...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The project for Rathcormac National School is included in the School Buildings Work Programme for 2011 which was announced on 24th January 2011. Information, including current status, in relation to all projects on the 2011 Programme is available on my Department's web-site. The Design Team have submitted a revised Stage 2(b) (Detailed Design) for review by my Department. As soon as this...

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to restate that the Teaching Council is the body with statutory responsibility for the registration of teachers including the recognition of teaching qualifications and neither I nor my Department have a role in this process. I have made enquiries with the Council regarding their procedures and I understand that the situation is as follows. The Teaching Council assesses applications...

Written Answers — Redundancy Payments: Redundancy Payments (21 Jul 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: An application for compensation for loss of hours (partial redundancy) was received on 28th June 2011 by my Department from the person referred to by the Deputy. Under the terms of my Department's circular on redundancy arrangements for Special Needs Assistants, this person is not entitled to a partial redundancy payment as the time limit for submitting an application (52 weeks after the date...

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

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy 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...