Results 20,541-20,560 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application from the school in question for significant funding to facilitate major reconfiguration works within the school building.  My Department recently visited the school and met with the principal. The principal was advised that my Department will be in further contact with the school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. My Department is aware of the school's accommodation needs and will be liaising with the school in the context of progressing the architectural planning process for the project.

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

Richard Bruton: Under the direction of my Department’s Management Board, the EU/International Unit under the leadership of a Deputy Secretary General is working with Departmental Divisions and Agencies on analysing and prioritising issues in preparation for the negotiation phase. Between December and January the Unit oversaw extensive engagement that I and Minister of State John Halligan TD had with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Reform (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The current system of student support is underpinned by the Student Support Act 2011. The review of the Act has commenced and it is anticipated that it will be completed in early 2018. As previously advised, all relevant issues, including an examination of the qualifying criteria for the special rate of grant, will be considered as part of this review.  With regard to the Student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autistic Spectrum Disorders, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of...

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

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, there are 13 primary schools serving the Swords area. My Department has been in direct contact with a number of these schools in respect of their junior infant capacity. In that regard it is understood that two schools in the area have junior places available should parents wish to avail of them for September 2017. As the Deputy will appreciate, it is...

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

Richard Bruton: Schemes were initiated in 1978 and 1979 for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. Staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by my Department and are not paid via grant funding. The 1978 and 1979 schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

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

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teachers to primary schools is published annually on the website of the Department of Education and Skills. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September.  The staffing schedule operates in a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Administration (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: As previously advised, where overpayments occur, SUSI treats the overpayment as a debt to the Exchequer and seeks to ensure that all such payments are recovered from the student. This approach is consistent with the general policy and principle regarding the recovery of debt, as set out in the Student Support Act 2011, and is applied to all overpayments. When an overpayment is identified,...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department uses data from the Census combined with information from the Primary and Post Primary Pupil Databases to develop projections of full time enrolment at primary and post-primary level. My Department uses also CSO data as one of the key data sources used in the DEIS identification process. The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are provided to assist recognised schools to cater for pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context and where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in medical and other professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require additional adult assistance in order to be able to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Stage 2(b) Detailed Design Report was recently submitted to my Department by the Board of Management and its Design Team. Following receipt of that submission, my Department authorised the Board of Management to instruct its Design Team to commence the pre-qualification process for the assessment of suitably qualified contractors to which the project can be tendered....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team appointment for the major building project referred to by the Deputy has recently been completed and the project has now entered early architectural planning / design stages. My Department has authorised the Design Team to commence Stage 1 of architectural planning as per the Department’s Design Team Procedures 2012. Stage 1 is the initial sketch design stage and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team for the school building project to which the Deputy refers is finalising the Stage 2(b) - Detailed Design submission which will then be submitted to the Department for review. Following receipt and consideration of that report my Department will revert to the school with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (4 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: An amended Emergency Works Scheme application consistent with the terms and conditions of that Scheme is awaited from the school to which the Deputy refers. My Department has arranged to provide technical assistance to the school with this application which will be dealt with as quickly as possible when received. The school must apply separately under my Department's Additional...

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

Richard Bruton: My Department does not hold a record of staff who apply for transfers to other Departments/ Locations. Staff apply to the relevant Department either directly or via the Central Applications Facility (CAF) which is managed by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (5 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 to 106, inclusive, together. Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme, the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary, post-primary and special schools. The overall policy of my Department is to offer the best quality connectivity to all schools in line with technical solutions available in the market and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Educational Disadvantage (5 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) college admissions scheme is operated and regulated by a number of higher education institutions and not by my Department. The HEAR is a college and university admissions scheme which offers places on the basis of lower Leaving Certificate points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds....