Results 341-360 of 19,032 for speaker:Ruairi Quinn

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

Ruairi Quinn: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is working closely with the relevant Local Authority in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the school in question. Due to sensitivities associated with land acquisitions, it is not possible to provide further information in relation to the ongoing work to acquire a permanent site for the school at this time. The Deputy will be aware that...

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

Ruairi Quinn: The school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning. A design team was appointed in March to commence the architectural planning process. However, the Project Supervisor for the Design Process (PSDP) subsequently ceased trading and my Department is now dealing directly with the Consultant Architect with a view to filling this position. Due...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware my Department's position is that as each child with autism is unique, they should have access to a range of different approaches to meet their individual needs. Applied Behavioural Analysis, or ABA, is one of the approaches used in special classes for children with autism. The use of ABA as part of the range of interventions is particularly useful for addressing...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The Residential Institutions Redress Board was established in December 2002 under the Residential Institutions Redress Act, 2002 to make fair and reasonable financial awards to victims of institutional childhood abuse. Applicants had a period of up to 3 years in which to submit an application to the Redress Board, that is until 15th December 2005 during which time the Board undertook an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Funding (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Caranua, the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Board was established under the Residential Institution Statutory Act, 2012, to oversee the use of the cash contributions of up to €110 million, pledged by the religious congregations, to support the needs of survivors of institutional child abuse. Contributions from congregations are deposited in the special investment account...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 210 together. The Board of Management (BOM) of the school in question advised my Department that the school will continue in its current locations until the end of June, 2015. My Department has confirmed its willingness to provide grant aid to the BOM to facilitate it renting the premises referred to for the coming school year. My officials and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Officials in my Department have confirmed with Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) that the grant application of the student referred to by the Deputy was refused. The student appealed to the Appeals Officer in SUSI and a letter issued on the 26th May 2014, upholding the original decision. Where an individual applicant has had an appeal turned down, in writing, by SUSI, and remains of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staffing (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: A Clerk Typist Scheme for the employment of secretaries in primary and secondary schools was initiated in 1978 as part of the then Government's job-creation programme. While a small number of secretaries employed under the 1978 scheme remain in schools, the scheme is being phased out - no new posts are being created and posts which fall vacant are not being filled. The 1978 scheme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The major school building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning. The Stage 2(b) submission (Detailed Design) has been approved by the Department, however, as the project was not included in the Department's Five Year Building Programme, the project was not authorised to proceed to tender. Due to competing demands on my Department's capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: An approval letter was issued to the Management Authority of the school referred to by the Deputy on 8th May 2013 advising them that they had been approved €12,750 under my Department's Emergency Works Scheme to enable them address dampness and mildew issues at their school building. All approved funding was paid to the school authority on the 11th October 2013 and no funding was...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources. Where the student, their parents, legal guardian, spouse, civil partner or cohabitant, as applicable, get a payment from any other government department or state agency details must be submitted as part of the grant application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy submitted an application for window replacement under the 2014 Summer Works Scheme. The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced details of the schools that will receive Summer Works Scheme funding in 2014 in respect of applications submitted for Categories 1 to 6 i.e. Gas, Electrical, Mechanical, Toilet Facilities and Roof Works...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: Persons in receipt of the supplementary welfare allowance may apply for a student grant. Assuming that students satisfy all of the relevant terms and conditions of the student grant scheme, eligible students on this payment qualify for the standard rate of grant and student contribution or fees where applicable. Supplementary welfare allowance is not an eligible payment for the special rate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Nursing Education (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The number of places on Nursing Programmes at DCU is tightly regulated and guided by the Nursing Board. The Nursing Careers Centre (managed by An Bord Altranais) publish an annual guide for Nursing applicants - "Nursing/Midwifery - A career for you" with full information on the number of Nursing places available per year in each Higher Education Institute. I attach details of the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Expenditure (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy is aware, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was established in November 2012. In the 20 month period since its establishment, QQI has incurred the following expenditure. External consultants and professional services expenditure was as follows: €5,748 outsourced fixed asset maintenance; €8,925 related to project management advice and support; €14,365...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Holidays (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: The provisions in relation to the minimum school hours and days for primary schools are set out in my Department's "Time in School" Circular 11/95. This provides that the minimum number of teaching days per school year is 183 full school days for primary schools. The circular provides that this minimum number must be adhered to by all primary schools and for all classes within schools....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staffing (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: As the Deputy will be aware, a new set of proposals for a public service agreement were put forward by the Labour Relations Commission which now form the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (the Haddington Road Agreement). One aspect of this Agreement relates to supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) and as both Unions that represent SNAs namely,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Applications (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: My Department is working closely with the relevant Local Authority in relation to acquiring a suitable site for the school referred to by the Deputy. Due to sensitivities associated with land acquisitions generally, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with further information in relation to the ongoing work to acquire a site for the school at this time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 204 together. In June 2011, the Government decided to reduce the overall number of vocational education committees (VECs) from 33 to 16, to merge particular VECs, including the VECs covering counties of Longford and Westmeath, and to approve in principle the preparation of a new Bill to replace the existing VEC legislation. The VECs were dissolved on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (24 Jun 2014)

Ruairi Quinn: I propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 211, 213 and 215 together. In the context of the implementation of the new Framework for Junior Cycle the only subjects that will be "compulsory" are English, Mathematics and Irish. This decision has been taken to give schools the flexibiilty to develop their Junior Cycle programme mindful of the educational needs of their own students and mindful of...