Results 13,321-13,340 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Special Educational Needs: Special Educational Needs (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that a proposal for an academy for children with autism has been received by officials in my Department who will revert to the organisation in question shortly. However it is important to emphasise that the proposal will be considered in the context of my Department's policy in this regard. My Department's policy is focused on ensuring that all children including...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for the works as outlined under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The school to which the Deputy refers was included in the January announcement of schools to progress to secure planning permission with a view to preparing tender documents for 2011 or 2012. The project is at an advanced stage of the architectural planning process and will be lodged for planning permission once this stage is complete. Officials from my Department will be in touch with the...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy wherein the Presentation Brothers set out their concerns regarding the commitment in the Programme for Government to negotiate the transfer of school infrastructure currently owned by the 18 religious orders cited in the Ryan Report, at no extra cost to the State. I intend discussing this commitment in the Programme for Government...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Inquiry Officer has furnished my Department with an Interim Report on the matter referred to by the Deputy. My Department sought legal advice in relation to certain aspects of the Interim Report and these advices have just been received. I have given careful consideration to the content of the Interim Report and the advices received from the Office of the Attorney General. I am...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible works were prioritised in the list of 453 successful schools that was announced on 30 March 2011. These works included Gas,...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for the works as outlined under the 2011 Summer Works Scheme. Unfortunately, due to the scale of demand for funding under the scheme, it was not possible to grant aid all applications. As outlined in the Circular governing the operation of the scheme, applications for works in the higher categories of eligible...

Written Answers — Teachers' Remuneration: Teachers' Remuneration (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2004 abolished the maximum age of retirement for new entrants to employment in the public service from 1 April 2004. It also raised the minimum pension age for new entrants to age 65. In general terms, a new entrant to employment in the public service (including employment as a teacher) is a person who enters public service...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 181 together. The school to which the Deputy refers was authorised to proceed to tender in February. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that the project will proceed to construction in late 2011.

Written Answers — Teaching Qualifications: Teaching Qualifications (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: There are no additional qualification requirements required to teach in a Gaelscoil. The introduction of any such requirements would impact on the capacity to redeploy surplus permanent teachers to any primary school. My Department will be seeking in the coming period to recommence discussions with the relevant education partners, on changes necessary to achieve our objective of absorbing...

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. I would like to advise the Deputy that in May 2008 the school in question applied for a change of status on foot of which my Department requested a report from the Inspector as part of its examination of the matter. The Inspectorate consulted with the three schools most directly impacted and considered the matter under a number of...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The sports complexes attached to a small number of Community and Comprehensive Schools, including Tallaght Community School, were established in the early 1970s on the basis that they would operate on a self-financing basis. In recent times, the complex at Tallaght Community School has experienced some difficulty in matching its operating costs and its income. Accordingly, the Board of...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Vacancies in the remainder of the 2010/11 school year may be filled only on a temporary basis. The process of allocating teaching resources to schools for the 2011/12 school year and the arrangements for filling vacant or new teaching positions takes place in the context of the Programme for National Recovery, the EU/IMF Programme of Support for Ireland and the Public Service Agreement...

Written Answers — Third Level Institutions: Third Level Institutions (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Higher education institutions are autonomous bodies and the employment conditions of all employees are a matter for those institutions. As employers, universities and other third level institutions are legally obliged to adhere to the provisions of employment legislation in respect of all their employees, including post-doctoral researchers. In the case of employees on fixed term contracts,...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The details requested are being prepared and will be forwarded shortly by my department, directly to the person concerned.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The most recent projections produced by my Department are forecasting an increase in the projected enrolments at post-primary level in the coming years. It is within this context that the Forward Planning Section of my Department is in the process of analysing all areas in the country in order to determine the level of additional provision which will be required at both primary and post...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: In recognition of the fact that a student under 23 yeas of age can be estranged from his/her parents, it is possible under the student grant schemes, as an exceptional measure, for such a candidate to be assessed without reference to his/her parents'/guardian's income or address. However, compelling independent evidence of estrangement must be provided to the grant awarding authority to...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department of Education and Skills (DES) is required to ensure that the overall allocation of teaching posts does not exceed the targets set out in the Governments Employment Control Framework. The DES had planned for a certain amount of increased growth in teacher numbers across the school sector in 2011, in line with increased demographic growth. In respect of resource teaching hours...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Internship Development Programme aims to provide those who are at least three months unemployed with a 12 month work placement in a host organisation. This will enable the unemployed maintain their links with the labour market while also facilitating their upskilling and reskilling, thereby improving their employability. Whilst on the work placement element of the internship, interns will...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (12 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector is a key education objective of the Programme for a National Government 2011-2016. On the 27th March, 2011 I announced the establishment of the Forum and the appointment of an Advisory Group to convene the process. The Advisory Group is to be chaired by Dr. John Coolahan, Professor Emeritus at NUI Maynooth....