Results 13,141-13,160 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Special Educational Needs (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I will direct that an inquiry be held in respect of the points made by the Deputy. I will consider the results of that inquiry and revert to him in due course. Written Answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Higher Education Grants (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the student grant measures announced in budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil-Green Party Government began to come into effect from January this year when a reduction of 4% in the rates of grant was applied to all student grant recipients. Further to this, budget measures that will come into effect from next September for the 2011 to 2012 academic year will...

Higher Education Grants (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for his comments and questions. At this point, I am not in a position to indicate when a revised or changed scheme will come into effect for the academic year 2012-13. I will examine the Deputy's proposal but he will understand that any such proposal will have to be cost-neutral within the operation of the scheme. If we can make the scheme better, however, then I am open...

Higher Education Grants (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy has raised a few supplementary questions and I will try to deal with them quickly. As regards the scheme that will come into effect for September, I will try to have it published as soon as possible. I will communicate directly with the Deputy in that regard. With regard to the modernisation of the grant system generally, progress has been made in that the administration of the...

Schools Counselling Services (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Social Personal and Health Education, otherwise known as SPHE, is designed to promote students' coping and decision-making skills, and encourage healthy lifestyles. The modules at junior cycle deal specifically with belonging and integrating, coping with stress, emotional health and well-being, and relationships and sexuality education. An awareness of when, how and from whom to seek help,...

Schools Counselling Services (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I thank the Deputy for his question and his intervention and I share his concern. There have been a number of incidents in recent times, perhaps compounded by economic difficulties in broader society, which are bringing some of these crises to a head. If schools in the Deputy's constituency are struggling with these matters, I urge him to communicate directly with them and get them to make...

Schools Counselling Services (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I do not have that information to hand but I will send a measured reply to the Deputy.

Special Educational Needs (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: RTT posts and teaching hours for Traveller pupils will be withdrawn, effective from 31 August 2011. Traveller pupils who are eligible for learning support teaching should receive this tuition through the existing learning support provision in schools. All schools should select students for learning support on the basis of priority of need. The expected budgetary target reduction in the...

Special Educational Needs (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand the Deputy's concern. I have received many representations from different Members in the Wexford constituency about this school. I am not sure what can be done. I accept that the overall impact of the reduction of certain supports should be examined in the context of how schools are struggling to provide for existing pupils who need support. I will examine the Clonroche case...

Special Educational Needs (4 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the special needs assistant, SNA, scheme provides additional supports for schools to enable them to support pupils with significant care needs. SNAs are allocated to schools by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: While people with disabilities are encouraged to avail of FÁS mainline training, in situations where clients require more intensive support FÁS contracts with 22 specialist training providers across the country, including the National Learning Network, to deliver vocational training to people with disabilities. There are currently 2,131 training places available through specialist training...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department submitted an application in June 2009 for co-financing assistance from the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) towards the cost of guidance, training, entrepreneurship and education programmes for some 2,840 workers made redundant from January 2009 at the Dell computer manufacturing plant in Raheen, County Limerick and at ancillary enterprises. It was estimated at that...

Written Answers — Employment Action Plan: Employment Action Plan (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. Under the sectoral plan of the former Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, an outline for a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities has been advanced in discussions with other Departments and stakeholder representatives. The further development of this strategy is the subject of ongoing discussions in a...

Written Answers — Jobs Initiative: Jobs Initiative (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The programme for Government contains proposals to support a jobs initiative which will provide additional places in training, work experience and educational opportunities for those who are out of work. This will include an internship scheme under the remit of the Department of Social Protection. Further details regarding the jobs initiative and an internship scheme will be announced...

Written Answers — Employment Support Services: Employment Support Services (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: FÁS is implementing a number of initiatives to support registered redundant apprentices to make progress with their apprenticeships. I refer the Deputy to the reply to Question No. 66 of 30 March 2011 in that regard. The progression possibilities for any specific apprentice in his or her own particular circumstances are operational matters for FÁS.

Written Answers — Electioneering in Schools: Electioneering in Schools (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I assure the Deputy that I share the concern implicit in his question regarding the distribution of electioneering material in schools. It is my view that the dissemination of such material through the school system is highly inappropriate. I will be raising this matter with my officials to consider how best to address this in the future.

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school to which the Deputy refers has made an application to my Department for large scale capital funding. The priority attaching to individual projects is determined by published prioritisation criteria, which were formulated following consultation with the Education Partners. There are four band ratings under the criteria, each of which describes the extent of...

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (3 May 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 SNAs to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. This includes a requirement for the...

Written Answers — Third Level Admissions: Third Level Admissions (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The selection of students for entry to higher education is a matter for the institutions which are responsible for determining entry and admissions criteria in accordance with their statutory autonomy in academic affairs. Places on full-time undergraduate courses are allocated by the universities through the Central Applications Office which manages the process on their behalf. Places are...

Written Answers — School Enrolments: School Enrolments (3 May 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the board of management of the school. My Department has no role in processing applications for enrolment to schools. The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is a statutory agency that can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child....