Results 21,101-21,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (20 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is in ongoing contact with the Patron of the school referred to and is aware of the school's enrolment position. The Patron's office has advised my Department that there are no plans to close the school and that a Single Manager has been appointed. My Department will continue to liaise with the Patron in relation to the matter.

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

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that building projects for the two schools referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied are included in the Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. Discussions are ongoing in respect of site related issues and the school will be notified of the outcome when finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Funding (20 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: As part of the ongoing review of capital funding requirements in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), Galway Mayo Institute of Technology has submitted a proposal outlining a number of projects that could be prioritised for capital funding should it become available. One of these projects is among a number from across the sector that are being considered for inclusion in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Cóiríocht Scoile (20 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: Cheadaigh mo Roinn deontas cineachta suntasach i Meán Fómhair 2014 don scoil i dtrácht le haghaidh leathnú buan agus oibreacha athchumraíochta trína ndéanfaí gach cóiríocht réamhdhéanta a bhaint de láithreán na scoile. Fuair mo Roinn soiléiriú i dtaca le moladh le haghaidh réimse níos leithne...

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

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 to 273, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, building projects for the schools referred to are included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. My Department has undertaken site visits to the schools relating to the preparatory work required to advance the projects. My Department will continue to liaise with the schools in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (20 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The principal support provided by my Department, is the student grant scheme. The scheme makes available means-tested financial assistance to qualifying full-time students in further and higher education. Additional funding of €4 million was secured in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants, from September 2017, for the most disadvantaged postgraduate...

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

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers in the details supplied was included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. I wish to advise the Deputy that legal matters associated with the site transfer are currently being progressed. When finalised, my Department will liaise directly with the school authority regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (20 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: Students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) are not eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme, as this would result in a duplication of income support payments. However, students in receipt of BTEA, may be considered for SUSI fee supports up to a maximum of €6,270.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department approved a devolved grant for the provision of five additional classrooms to the school concerned earlier this year to meet their immediate accommodation needs. The school authority has been in further contact with my Department in respect of their accommodation requirements. The matter is currently being considered and my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (21 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution. The definition of an approved institution is set out in Section 7 of the Student Support Act 2011 and Regulation 3 of the Student Support Regulations 2017. The college to which the Deputy refers, is not an approved institution, for student grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Management (21 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: In the case of the school in question, I wish to advise that a Whole School Evaluation of the school was carried out earlier this year. A report including recommendations to address some of the issues raised was published thereafter. Senior officials from my Department subsequently held a meeting with school management and the patron of the school in relation to the issues raised in the Whole...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (21 Sep 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...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. The Department is committed to a rebuild on the existing site. That has been accepted. As the Deputies have indicated, it is due for commencement between 2019 and 2021. It is at an early stage of planning within the Department. As Deputy Ó Broin has said, there are issues from the Department's point of view. It needs additional...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am not sure that an on-site meeting is necessary at this stage to resolve these issues. The Department is looking for information on the existence and location of a water main, media underground services and ESB underground cables. This is factual information about mapping. I was not aware that this involved co-location with the Central Remedial Clinic, CRC, so I will have to explore...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Measures (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: Pursuant to Section 41 of the Education Act 1998, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment develops curriculum and provides advice to me on matters relating to the curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools. Once curricula are approved by my Department the content is advised to schools through Circular letters. The Rules and Programmes for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Social Personal Health Education (SPHE) curriculum is mandatory at primary level and up to junior cycle at post-primary level. Relationship and Sexuality Education (RSE) is embedded within SPHE at Junior Cycle level. A framework for Senior Cycle SPHE is available to schools and while its implementation is not mandatory, schools are required to provide an Relationship and Sexuality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are provided specifically 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding in March 2015 to provide 2 mainstream classrooms with en suite toilets and to convert an existing 40m2classroom into a multi-purpose room. Additional funding was subsequently approved as a contribution towards a GP Hall. However the school has proposed a project which is outside the scope of that normally approved....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, a project to deliver accommodation for the school to which she refers is included on my Department's Capital Programme. The acquisition of a site by my Department is required for the purpose of this project. With the assistance of officials in the relevant local authority, a number of site options were identified and assessed. Of these, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (26 Sep 2017)

Richard Bruton: For school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 geographic areas known as school planning areas which facilitates the orderly planning of school provision and accommodation needs. In identifying the requirement for additional school places, my Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify the areas under increased demographic pressure nationwide. ...