Results 21,761-21,780 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Appeals (14 Nov 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: Institutes of Technology (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. The association referred to by the Deputy is a new organisation which was launched in April this year. Its initial set of accounts from the point of launch are not yet available however a copy of its legacy body's most recent accounts (2016) were submitted to the Companies Registration Office. The organization is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for recognised primary and post primary schools. All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme. Significant improvement has been made in recent years, with the number of primary schools with access to broadband speeds of greater that...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Health and Safety (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As previously advised the acceptable tank separation distance for a tank of this size between other gas tanks and other buildings, boundary walls etc. is 3 metres. The Design and Build Contractor has confirmed that the tank is located approximately 13 metres from the building which they and their Consultant Engineer have advised is an acceptable distance. While the Deputies...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Properties (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has considered the above request. My Department has instructed the Chief State Solicitor's Office, who in turn have been in contact with the legal representatives of the property owner to inform them of the steps which need to be taken in order to release my interest in the property. The Chief State Solicitor's Office is in ongoing contact with the property...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Remuneration (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Primary and Post Primary Schools including special schools across the country were closed on October 16th and 17th due to Storm Ophelia.  Teachers and Special Needs Assistants who were scheduled to undertake duties in a school on 16th and 17th October will be paid as normal for these dates.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Commencement of Legislation (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: A number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 have been commenced, including those establishing the National Council for Special Education and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children. The Sections of the EPSEN Act which have not been implemented are those which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to: - an...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Equality Legislation (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 151, inclusive, together. The Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, which commenced on 1 January 2016, provided for certain changes in the exclusion of discrimination on particular grounds in certain employments (i.e. educational or medical institutions maintained, in whole or in part, by monies provided by the Oireachtas) by amending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Code of Practice (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: This issue has not been brought to the attention of my Department. The operation of schools is the responsibility of the management of each individual school, and it is a matter for each individual school management to ensure that it has appropriate policies in place to ensure the responsible and ethical use of digital technologies. My Department’s support service, the Professional...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Textbooks Code of Practice (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The overall operation of schools is the responsibility of the management authorities of each school. Accordingly, it is a matter for each individual school management to ensure that it has appropriate policies in place to ensure the responsible and ethical use of digital technologies. My Department does not provide legal advice to schools or teachers.  My Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Schools are funded by capitation grants and have the flexibility to decide at local school level how such funding is used. The Department provides several curricular and other supports which include possible horticultural projects, but does not seek to impose particular routes of study on individual schools. The following is an outline of the ways in which horticulture can form part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Institutions (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The position generally is that 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware my Department issues capitation related grants to schools in instalments throughout the school year. The following are links to the most recent circulars published on my Department’s website in relation to capitation grants which includes details of the timing of payments: . . The position in relation to the Minor Works Capital Grant for the 2017/2018 school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Gaelscoil Issues (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: In April 2017, the Department of Education and Skills issued Circulars 0033/2017 and 0034/2017 inviting the 134 primary schools and 28 post-primary schools located in Gaeltacht language-planning areas to participate in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme. 106 primary schools and 27 post-primary schools expressed an interest to participate in the Scheme from September 2017. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have been in a position to significantly expand the recruitment of teachers at primary and post primary. Some 2,300 new teachers were recruited in 2016-2017 and 2,900 will be recruited in 2017-2018. That figure of 2,900 is 21% more than the number announced in budget 2017 so we have in fact been able to recruit more new teachers than we have announced. All of the 2016-2017...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The figure of €130 million includes the cohort of new entrant staff recruited in the education and training sector in September 2017. This includes teachers recruited to fill the almost 3,000 additional teaching posts put into the system in September 2017 to meet rising demographic needs, provide additional resource teachers, provide enhancements to guidance and school leadership and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Complaints Procedures (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware the Programme for a Partnership Government provides that the Government will introduce a stronger complaints procedure and charter for parents.   On 5 December 2016, I published the General Scheme of an Education (Parent and Student Charter) Bill 2016. The proposed legislation will require every school to consult with parents and students, and publish and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (14 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application to my Department for significant capital funding for additional accommodation. The application is currently being assessed and my Department expects to be in a position to convey a decision to the school authority shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (14 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.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 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. Preparatory work has been initiated to advance the project and my Department will continue to liaise directly with the school authority concerned in the context of progressing the project through the architectural planning process.