Results 1,821-1,840 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 310 to 312, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: This is a day to day operational matter for SOLAS. I have asked SOLAS to contact the deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on the 19th December 2013. In order to commence payment of the maintenance portion of his grant the applicant needs to upload his bank details on line in order for payments to commence. SUSI have confirmed that they issued a letter...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Establishment (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Residential Institutions Statutory Fund, which uses the service name Caranua, is an independent statutory body under the aegis of my Department. I understand from enquiries made by my officials that Caranua will begin to issue Part 2 of the Application Form to those applicants who have been verified as eligible, in March. Caranua has received over 1,500 applications since it opened for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Issues (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. The State Examinations Commission operates a scheme of Reasonable Accommodations in the Certificate examinations, including an appeals process. Applications for such accommodations are submitted by schools on behalf of their students. Full details of the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Courses Provision (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Higher Education Authority have advised my Department that they cannot identify the percentage of those with FETAC qualifications progressing into second year with the data currently available. There is data available however from the CAO relating to CAO acceptances by those entering with a FETAC qualification and of those, students whose admission into their chosen programme is based on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the student referred to by the Deputy was issued an award letter on the 20th September 2013. Article 32 of the Student Grant Scheme allows for the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Rental Scheme (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Department will continue to provide a book grant as usual to all primary schools. This grant, can be utilised for the purposes of updating or expanding a school's existing book rental scheme. I want to commend all schools that have used it to help build up book rental schemes over the years and I am aware of the difficulties faced by schools in relation to these schemes. Their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Shortages (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Enterprise Engagement Forum, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, provides for bi-annual dialogue between the Department and enterprise on education policy issues. Input from enterprise is also provided for through representation on boards and agencies across the education and training sector. The development and delivery of targeted skills initiatives such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Under the Action Plan for Jobs initiative a review of the Irish Apprenticeship system commenced in 2013 to determine whether the current model of apprenticeship should be retained, adapted or replaced, taking into account the needs of learners, employers, the economy and the need for cost effectiveness into the future. An independent review group was established and the group's report was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322, 323, 327 and 331 together. The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to the protection of frontline services for pupils with special educational needs. The level of resources devoted to supporting children with Special Educational Needs has been maintained and increased for this school year. The previous Government capped the number...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments Data (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an enrolment policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998. In this regard a Board of Management may find it necessary to restrict enrolment to children from a particular area or a particular age group or on the basis of some other criterion. The criteria to be applied by schools in such circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department has no record of the submissions to which the Deputy refers. The Deputy will be aware that my Department's over-riding objective is to ensure that every child has access to a physical school place and that our school system is in a position to cater for increasing pupil numbers. In June 2011, I announced that up to 40 new schools are to be established up to 2017 to cater for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Back to Education Allowance Eligibility (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The objective of the student grant scheme is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place. Eligibility for the Back to Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Application Numbers (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The current status of all projects, may be viewed on my Department's website at www.education.ie and this will be updated regularly throughout the year. The Deputy will be aware that the Five Year Construction Plan, that I announced on 9 March 2012, outlines the major school projects that will commence construction over the duration of the Plan. The primary aim at the core of the Five Year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Provision (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Our current configuration of small primary schools has been examined by my Department in a value for money review, which I am considering in consultation with my Government colleagues. There are many aspects to be considered in regard to school provision, apart from pupil enrolment. Among them are questions such as availability of diversity of provision, ethos of schools, parental choice,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Bullying in Schools (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In January 2013, my colleague, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and I published the Action Plan on Bullying. Since then, good progress has been made on implementing actions designed to help prevent and tackle bullying in primary and second level schools. These actions focus on support for schools, teacher training, research and awareness raising and aim to ensure that all forms...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Applications (25 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: In November 2011 on the announcement of the Medium Term Education Capital Investment Framework, I indicated that it was unlikely funding would be available in future years to allow the issue of the Minor Works Grant to primary schools. In November 2013 funding was made available as a once-off payment of the Minor Works Grant in respect of the 2013/2014 school year. Future funding of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (20 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 to 103, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that commensurate with the level of funding available for the Summer Works Scheme, applications are currently being assessed on a top down basis in accordance with the prioritisation criteria outlined in the governing Circular Letter for the Scheme. This Circular Letter (59/2013) is available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Services Provision (20 Feb 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has now received a proposal from the school referred to by him in his question to establish an early intervention class in the school for pupils who are deaf or hard of hearing. My Department will consider this proposal, in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education, the Visiting Teacher for the Hearing Impaired, and my...