Results 21,721-21,740 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7 March 2017. These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.  The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools were published on 7 March 2017. These Circulars set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.  The revised allocation process replaces the generalised allocation process at primary and post primary school level for learning...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Healthy Living Strategies (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is active in the area of promotion of health and well-being in schools.  The issue of promoting healthy eating is addressed in schools through subjects such as Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE), and Home Economics as well as in Physical Education.  The aim is to equip students with such skills and knowledge to enable them to make appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team for the major building project for the school in question has submitted the Stage 2b Report through the Board of Management to my Department for review. On completion of the review of this report, my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). The ETB has confirmed that the Stage 2B documents are complete except for those in relation to the diversion of overhead power lines traversing the site.  The ETB and the Design Team are actively pursuing this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Design Team for the major building project for the school in question has submitted the Stage 2b Report through the Board of Management to my Department for review. On completion of the review of this report, my Department will revert to the Board of Management with regard to the further progression of the project at that time.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that agreement in principle has been reached in respect of the potential acquisition of a site for permanent accommodation to meet the needs of the two schools to which the Deputy refers. The conveyancing process is currently advancing and officials in my Department are liaising with the vendor in order to progress the acquisition. Furthermore, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Education Centres are statutory bodies under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998) and are managed by local voluntary Management Committees which are elected annually. Management Committees have overall responsibility for the operation of their centres and the appointment of a director and other staff. My Department is the main source of funding for Education Centres.  It...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Centre Network (7 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Education Centres are statutory bodies recognised under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998) and are managed by local voluntary Management Committees which are elected annually. Management Committees have overall responsibility for the operation of their centres and the appointment of a director and other staff. Education Centres submit their independently certified accounts to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Ministerial Meetings (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the correspondence referred to by the Deputy and I have arranged to meet with the individual later this week.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the correspondence referred to in this instance was not previously received by my Department. I understand that the student to which the Deputy refers, recently appealed the decision of the Appeals Officer of the awarding authority (SUSI) to the independent Student Grants Appeals Board (SGAB). The appeal will be heard within the 60 day timeframe set out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's 6-Year Construction Programme (2019-2021). In this regard, my Department will be liaising with the school in due course in the context of initiating the preparatory work for the proposed project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. 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 clear and transparent manner and treats all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Student grant applications are means tested on gross income from all sources earned inside and outside the State within a specified reference period. The means test arrangements of the Student Grant Scheme are applied nationally. The assessment of income from the same starting point is deemed to be fair and reasonable because this approach eliminates any distortion which might arise from...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Contracts (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The number of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) employed in a school depends on the allocation given to the school by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), based on its assessment of the special educational needs of pupils in the school. My Department has no control over the allocation process to schools and is not in a position to influence the allocation process in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Statutory Instruments (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am aware of the concerns raised by a number of Education Support Centres referred to by the Deputy. Section 37 of the Education Act 1998 provides the statutory basis for Education Support Centres and outlines the policy framework underpinning their recognition and functions, funding, staffing and governance. The Act empowers me as Minister to make regulations relating...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy was approved a devolved grant under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2016 to provide 1 mainstream classroom, 1 resource room and 1 assisted user toilet. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department recently gave approval to the school authority for the project to proceed to Tender. As this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Scholarships (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The principal financial support provided by my Department for students in third level education is the student grant scheme. The scheme makes available means-tested financial assistance to qualifying full-time registered students in higher education attending approved courses in the EU, EEA and the Swiss Confederation. My Department does not operate or administer any scholarship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (8 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently submitted an application for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed.

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The heads of the Bill were approved earlier this year and published on 15 May. There was a meeting of the joint committee on 17 July when it was determined that the Bill did not require pre-legislative scrutiny. It has been referred for drafting.