Results 20,041-20,060 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Labour Court Recommendations (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that on 30 May my Department, with the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, conveyed sanction to University College Cork to implement the Labour Court recommendation with effect from the 12 September 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions Data (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I will arrange for the information requested by the Deputy in relation to teachers and non teaching staff paid on payrolls operated by my Department to be forwarded directly to her.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: In April 2016, the school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme for a range of Access for All works for its building.  This included the provision of a lift. My Department provided funding to the school for a variety of measures excluding the lift because the school already has one. My Department notes that in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has engaged consultants to procure the works required for the school in question and has emphasised the urgency in getting the works done as soon as possible. My officials are liaising with the school on the matter to keep them up to date on progress.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Fee Exemptions (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ireland Scholarship Programme (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: Students who sit the Leaving Certificate Examination for the first time in 2017 and who obtain at least Grade O6 or a higher grade in at least five subjects from the approved list of subjects, (as set out in the Rules and Programme for Post Primary Schools) will automatically be included as candidates for the award of the All Ireland Scholarships.  In order to be eligible for the All...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department’s six-year Capital Programme priorities building projects to meet demographic demand and this includes schools in County Kildare. The Capital Programme also provides for devolved funding for additional classrooms for schools where an immediate enrolment need has been identified or where an additional teacher has been appointed. As the Deputy is aware, there are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: In April 2016, the school to which the Deputy refers applied for funding under my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme for a range of Access for All works for its building.  This included the provision of a lift. My Department provided funding to the school for a variety of measures excluding the lift because the school already has one.    My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Costs (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The decision to use tablet devices is a matter for the Board of Management of each school. Where the introduction of new technology is planned, there should be consultation with members of the school community including parents. The cost and other implications should be fully considered by the Boards of Managements before a decision is made. It is a matter for each individual school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs should be included, where possible and appropriate, in mainstream school placements with additional supports provided.  In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available. The provision of special...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Special Education Support Service (SESS), which provides training for schools in how to assist pupils with special educational needs, including children with ASD, transferred to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on 20thMarch 2017.  The SESS comes under the auspices of the NCSE’s Regional Support Service which was established to provide an integrated and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Healthy Living Strategies (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: Under the Framework for Junior Cycle 2015, the Wellbeing area of learning will be introduced in September 2017 and will be recorded on the new Junior Cycle Profile of Achievement in Autumn 2020. The Wellbeing area of learning will be compulsory in all schools. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: Under the Constitution and in accordance with the Education Act 1998, parents have a right to have their children opt out of religion classes.  It is expected that this right will be upheld by schools on foot of a parental request. The nature of the arrangements put in place by a school to ensure this right is upheld is a matter for each individual school.  Accordingly, my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Quality and Qualifications Ireland (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: An independent external review of the current organisational structure of Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) was completed by Clarion Consulting Ltd in December 2016.  The purpose of the review was to identify a more appropriate staffing structure that will enable QQI to fulfill its statutory responsibilities and to communicate effectively both internally and externally.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: International Programmes (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: Ireland does not make any direct payment to the International Programme for the Development of Communication. The Department of Education and Skills, does however pay Ireland's annual membership contribution to UNESCO, which amounted to €1,013,541 in 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, it is my intention in accordance with the Programme for Government to replace all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established, over the lifetime of my Department's capital programme (2016-2021). To enable this development, my Department will be carrying out an assessment of the number of prefabs being used in schools to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved a mainstream classroom for the school in question and construction is nearing completion. This classroom will provide accommodation for the additional class teacher due to be appointed in September 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Psychological Services (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can inform the Deputy that my Department's National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychology service to all primary and post primary schools through an assigned NEPS psychologist and in some cases receive assessment services through the Scheme for Commissioning Psychological Assessments (SCPA). Under this scheme schools can have a student assessment carried...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equal Opportunities Employment (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities and to achieve a target of 3% of staff with disabilities. It also provides a framework for monitoring the employment target through monitoring committees in Government Departments. The role of the monitoring committees is to monitor and, in consultation with the National Disability...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (20 Jun 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has received correspondence from the school in question relating to the matter to which he refers. My Department will be in further contact with the school when the correspondence has been considered.