Results 20,641-20,660 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Other Questions: Teachers' Professional Development (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I agree with the Deputy entirely on the importance of teachers in transforming the learning environment. It is probably the most effective thing we can do to improve education standards. That is proven by international data as well as our own. It is heartening to see the progress we are making in mathematics, science and literacy standards. We are seeing huge improvements in these areas...

Other Questions: Teachers' Professional Development (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: There is a genuine difference between these. Most teachers do classroom practice as part of their training, but equally there is a process of people transferring from the college to the classroom setting. Principals and other members of staff are key in helping such a student develop into a member of staff and deploy their skills that they learned in college in the most effective way. They...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Brendan Smith for raising this again. I acknowledged earlier the Deputy's interest and question. I fully understand the concerns. As I stated earlier, the right decision was made not to have a two-phase development, and the board took that decision on the development. There were a couple of delays, which were unfortunate. They were not caused by the Department, but delays...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I absolutely understand the position. The Deputy raised this issue previously and I was pleased to be able to release that pre-qualification tender. This is slightly complex because the full decant is part of the overall tender. I understand why people would like to see that move forward, but that is conditional on the tender completion. That means it is urgent that we move it forward....

Other Questions: School Curriculum (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy Durkan for tabling this question. The curriculum has to evolve if our schools are to successfully equip young people with the capacity to meet the requirements of a modern, competitive economy and the needs of a modern and changing society. The Action Plan for Education details clear curriculum change and other commitments that will secure the step-change needed to equip...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: That is a crucial point. I mentioned earlier that the transition from preschool to primary level, from primary level to secondary level and from secondary level onwards is often the occasion when children fall by the wayside. It is a very important area. Research is ongoing and a group chaired by the Secretary General of the Department considers initiatives we can take in this area. There...

Other Questions: School Curriculum (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Department participates in a number of international fora one of which, the Atlantic Rim Collaboratory, has been particularly useful in providing examples of successful educational reform. This is not rocket science. As Deputy Nolan said earlier, it is often around the leadership and the quality of teaching. There is no magic bullet in Marlborough Street. It is about equipping...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers, SENOs, in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need. The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the current and future...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The figures speak for themselves. Since 2011, we have had a 136% increase in the number of ASD special units. We are massively expanding this area. Across the range of children on the ASD spectrum, many parents, some 61%, choose that their children are in mainstream classes, and they are supported there with resource teachers and with SNAs, where they are needed. The increase in resource...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I do not know what the Deputy means if she is says resources are not the solution. We are investing €1.68 billion in services for children with special needs and it is an absolutely correct investment. We have expanded that massively. Even in the very difficult years when there was no money available, we continued to expand the number of resource teachers and SNAs. We protected...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Between the school year just completed and the school year commencing in September, my Department will have provided 4,800 additional teachers across the school system. At primary level, 830 additional teachers have been allocated to meet demographic needs and a further 840 resource teachers and 300 teachers to reduce the staffing schedule by one point, which occurred last September. At...

Other Questions: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: I agree. The reason I answered the question in the way I did was just to show we are putting teachers into the schools. Most Deputies are aware of the importance of the 1,500 additional resource teachers we have put in over the past two years. Deputy Carol Nolan just emphasised it. People recognise the importance of leadership and guidance, which Deputy Byrne has emphasised very often,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The project to which the Deputy refers will provide permanent accommodation to cater for the full projected enrolment of 1000 pupils including a Special Needs Unit, a Sports Hall with fitness suite and changing facilities and ancillary accommodation and a school library. My Department approved the project to proceed to Tender Stage in October 2016. Pre-qualification of contractors for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Land Acquisition (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has written to the Congregation in response to its correspondence on the matter of the Clonkeen lands, seeking clarification on a number of points including whether the land in question is, as advised, the subject of a legally binding agreement with a home builder. The Congregation have acknowledged the correspondence concerned and indicated that it would be in further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Training Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department adopts a holistic and integrated approach to supporting the work of schools in promoting positive mental health. The process spans the curriculum in schools, whole school ethos, quality of teaching, learning and assessment, student support and pastoral care and the provision of professional support for teachers. It also involves other supports such as educational psychological...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Speech and Language Therapy Provision (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Programme for a Partnership Government states that a new model of In-School Speech and Language Therapy will be established. It also contains a commitment to examine the adequacy of the present policies and provision, and their scope for improvement, particularly in relation to speech and language difficulties and early intervention. As Speech and Language Therapists are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Language Schools (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: The majority of English language schools in Ireland are privately run. The relationship between teachers and private providers of education is based on a private contract. Issues relating to working conditions are a matter between the two parties and do not come under the remit of my Department. There is an extensive range of legislation in Ireland which protects the employment rights...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Land Acquisition (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Decisions in regard to the disposal of these lands are a matter for the Congregation. I would expect the Congregation to have given very careful consideration to all relevant issues, including the education needs of the current and future students of Clonkeen College. The Congregation has also to balance that need with the need to complete its outstanding redress contribution. After the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: Earlier this year I ran a public consultation process and held a Forum on the role of religion in school admissions.  Under the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, which last week passed committee stage, schools which are not oversubscribed will have to accept all applicants. This means that religion will not be used in admissions to 80% of schools. It is in the 20% other schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (6 Jul 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA designated higher education institutions. The HEA allocates this funding as a block grant to the institutions. As autonomous bodies, the internal disbursement of this funding, along with any funding it receives from private sources, is a matter for the individual...