Results 20,521-20,540 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Administration (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The HEA Board currently comprises a Chairperson and 12 ordinary members. This includes two members who were reappointed to the Board on 20 June 2017. I am also inviting expressions of interest, through the Public Appointments Service, for a further two academic members. This application process is currently underway and the closing date for expressions of interest...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: A Qualification Allowance in respect of a Pass Primary Degree is paid to 6,632 Primary schools teachers.  The current position regarding the payment of qualification allowances is outlined in Circular 8/2013 which can be accessed on my Department website.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Data (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The average number of substitute teachers employed on a daily basis in primary schools is approximately 3,600.  In overall terms, my Department has no evidence of a recent or current shortage of primary teachers.  However, I am aware that some schools are experiencing difficulty in recruiting adequately qualified substitute teachers, and I am committed to examining all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Report of the Chair of the Expert Group on Fixed Term and Part-Time issues in Lecturing in Ireland was published in May 2016 and the Report contains a number of recommendations that will assist in addressing concerns raised about the level of part-time and fixed-term employment in lecturing in the third level sector. My Department issued directions to the sector on 4 July 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Teaching Council (Amendment) Act 2015 is fully commenced. The remaining sections were commenced in November 2016.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teaching Council of Ireland (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the concerns of the Teaching Council to which the Deputy refers. Under the Teaching Council Acts 2001-2015 the Teaching Council is the body with statutory authority and responsibility for implementation of the Acts insofar as they relate to complaints against teachers. Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 provides for school managerial authorities to address complaints...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2016 provided for an improvement in the staffing schedule in primary schools by 1 point, from 1 teacher for every 28 pupils to 1 teacher for every 27 pupils for the 2016/17 school year and it should be noted that the current staffing schedule of 27:1 for primary schools has restored it to the position it was at prior to the fiscal crisis. The Programme for Government has a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Funding (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Higher education is a central part of our plan as a Government to support a strong economy and deliver a fair society. The package of measures I announced for the sector in last year's Budget reflects this priority. I secured an initial investment of €36.5 million in the sector in this year's Budget and €160 million overall over the next three years. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 210 and 214 together. The Framework for Junior Cycle 2015 is designed to provide students with learning opportunities that strike a better balance between learning knowledge and developing a wide range of skills and thinking abilities.  It also gives schools greater flexibility to design programmes that are suited to the needs of their Junior Cycle...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Croke Park Agreement (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Croke Park hours are part of wider productivity measures introduced under the Public Service Agreements that require all public servants to work additional time for no additional payment. The Croke Park hours represent a real reform with significant benefits for parents and children. In schools, the Croke Park hours are additional hours worked by teachers (33 additional hours a year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As a consequence of the financial crisis, there was a need to enact a number of measures to reduce public expenditure so as to stabilise the country's public finances. These included - a 10% reduction in the salaries and allowances payable to all new entrants to public service recruitment grades with effect from 1 January 2011; - that such new entrants would start on the first point...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to progressing the development of a dynamic and innovative education system that reflects the diversity of twenty-first Century Ireland.  The Programme for a Partnership Government reflects the Government’s objective of strengthening parental choice and further expanding diversity in our school system.  The desire of parents for diversity in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The provision of funding for childcare services is a matter for the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. Draft guidelines on the use of school buildings out of hours are currently being prepared and will be made available further to consultation with relevant school authorities and trustees. In general, school authorities have a considerable degree of autonomy in relation to how their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Last September, I launched the first ever Action Plan for Education, covering the period 2016- 2019. The central vision of the Plan is that the Irish Education and Training System should become the best in Europe over the next decade. The Plan’s high-level goals are based on the five policy areas which I believe will help us to achieve this ambition. The goals are: 1. Improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I intend bringing proposals to Government shortly seeking approval for the drafting of amendments to the Technological Universities Bill 2015 arising from the consultation process with stakeholders. I will bring the Bill back before the Houses as soon as is practicable following the drafting and approval of these amendments.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: English Language Training Organisations (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I published the General Scheme of a Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Amendment) Bill on 15 May 2017, following approval by Government.  The General Scheme provides for the protection of enrolled learners through the establishment of a Learner Protection Fund. This Learner Protection Fund will provide the type of learner protection that was initially envisaged in 2012, when the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions No. 219 and 220 together. My Department is aware of the proposal outllined in the 2018 pre budget submission referred to by the Deputy. At the outset, I wish to make clear that I strongly support any measures that can be put in place to reduce costs for parents.  School book rental schemes have an important role to play in reducing the cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Assistance Fund (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-19 contains more than 30 actions that are intended to make higher education more representative of wider society. One of five goals in the plan is to assess the impact of current initiatives to support equity of access in Higher Education Institutions. These include the Fund for Students with Disabilities (FSD) and the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved funding to the school in question and the school has been advised accordingly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The recruitment and appointment of teachers to fill teaching posts is a matter for the individual school authority, subject to procedures agreed under Section 24 of the Education Act 1998 (as amended by the Education (Amendment) Act 2012). In accordance with Department Circular 31/2011, schools are required to employ registered teachers with qualifications appropriate to the sector and...