Results 13,401-13,420 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has completed the acquisition of a site for the provision of a new post-primary school building in County Meath. A proposal to construct a new school building was assessed in accordance with the published prioritisation criteria for large scale building projects used by my Department and assigned a band 2 rating. Information in respect of the...

Written Answers — Schools Refurbishment: Schools Refurbishment (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for works 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 were prioritised and it was...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I understand that the changes to the student grant schemes introduced under Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fail - Green Party government including those relative to mature students, were designed to manage additional cost pressures arising from a significant increase in the number of students qualifying for grants, a proportionate increase in the number of students qualifying for higher...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The closing date for receipt of submissions to the value for money review of small primary schools was Friday 18th March 2011. A large response was received and the submissions are currently being sorted and acknowledged. I can confirm that almost 1,000 submissions have been received. The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of this volume of submissions it is not feasible to respond to...

Written Answers — School Closures: School Closures (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department met the Trustees of the school referred to by the Deputy in June 2010 to discuss the future status of the school. Further to that meeting the Trustees wrote to the Department to advise that, having assessed all options open to them, the current Trustees of the school will not be in a position to continue in trusteeship after 2012. They also informed my Department...

Written Answers — Pupil-Teacher Ratio: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The standardisation of the staffing schedule for Gaelscoileanna so that it is the same as that which applies to primary schools generally was one of a number of measures introduced in Budget 2011 by the previous Fianna Fáil /Green Party government to control and reduce teacher numbers. These changes are effective from September 2011. Given the financial constraints in which this country now...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Diploma in Science in Computing in Letterkenny Institute of Technology was funded under the Department's 2010 Labour Market Activation Fund. Funding for this course is available until June 2011. Eligible participants participating in the programme until June 2011 received fee support under Labour Market Activation funding. With regard to additional financial assistance, under the...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is currently at an early stage of architectural planning. The Stage 1 submission, which incorporates Preliminary Design was recently lodged with my Department. My officials are currently reviewing this documentation and will revert to the School and to the Design Team when this review is complete.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Property Management Section of the Office of Public Works has, on behalf of my Department, very recently identified site options in the area for the school referred to by the Deputy and these sites 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...

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the Deputy refers is currently at tender stage. Subject to no issues arising, it is anticipated that the project will proceed to construction in the coming months.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has reached agreement, in principle, subject to contract with Cork County Council, and is in ongoing liaison with the Local Authority, in relation to the proposed acquisition of a site for the project to which he refers. Due to the commercial sensitivities relating to site acquisitions, I am not in a position to comment further at this time....

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that officials from my Department are liaising with the school authority in relation to addressing site and access issues which must be resolved before the project at the school to which he refers can be progressed further.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 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 once construction commences the project will take approximately eighteen months to complete.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The project to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. It forms part of the 2011 School Building Programme announced in January. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the project design team lodged an application for Planning Permission for the main development with the Local Authority on 16th March last.

Written Answers — Schools Building Projects: Schools Building Projects (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that a major project for the school to which he refers was included on a list of projects, which were announced on 24 January 2011, for which briefs will be formulated in 2011. Officials from my Department will be in touch with the school authority shortly regarding a site visit to the school, which is the next step required to formulate the capital project brief....

Written Answers — School Patronage: School Patronage (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146, 147 and 148 together. As the Deputies will not doubt be aware, I have recently announced the establishment of a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector which will be convened in the coming weeks and will complete its work before the end of this year. The Forum will offer a platform for consideration of the very many issues that arise in the...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to consider further the role of vocational education committees in the provision of primary education in the light of the outcome of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector and other factors. As the Deputy will be aware, I have announced the establishment of a Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector which I will formally launch on 19 April. The...

Written Answers — Schools Recognition: Schools Recognition (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Programme for Government gives a commitment to move towards a more pluralist system of patronage at second level, recognising a wider number of patrons. It is my intention to address this policy over the lifetime of this Government. I will turn my attention to the issue of patronage at second level in due course and I will consider the role that all patron bodies can play in ensuring our...

Written Answers — School Staffing: School Staffing (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government clearly states 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. To that end, we will endeavour to protect front-line services in education. However, I do not intend to revisit the decision of the previous...

Written Answers — Higher Education Grants: Higher Education Grants (5 Apr 2011)

Ruairi Quinn: The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the relevant grant awarding authority i.e. the applicant's local authority or VEC. The grant awarding authority in question has advised my Department that an application for a grant from the student to which the Deputy refers was unsuccessful. It is open to the student to appeal this decision to the grant...