Results 21,901-21,920 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department is currently finalising its plans for capital expenditure in 2018. Building projects, including the project for the school to which the Deputy refers, will be considered in that context. Officials from my Department will shortly be in contact with the school regarding the timeframe for progression of its project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme Applications (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant to be announced towards the end of the year if funding permits. Over the next number of weeks the issue of the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the report of the Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector recommended that demand for patronage diversity should be met in areas of stable population by divesting patronage of existing schools where there is evidence of parental demand for change. Following surveys conducted by my Department in areas of stable population,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, a project to provide permanent accommodation for the school to which she refers is included on my Department's Capital Programme. Officials in my Department have been liaising with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the identification and acquisition of a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Financial supports are currently available for those postgraduate students who meet the eligibility criteria of the Student Grant Scheme. I secured additional funding in Budget 2017 to facilitate the reinstatement of full maintenance grants from September 2017, for the most disadvantaged postgraduate students. In addition postgraduate students who meet the qualifying conditions for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning - Stage 2(b), which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Certificate and Disability Access Certificate and the preparation of Tender Documents. All statutory applications have been secured. The Brief Change Request for the project was received by my Department....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (22 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), is the statutory body with responsibility for matters relating to the curriculum for early childhood education, primary and post-primary schools and the assessment procedures employed in schools and examinations on subjects which are part of the curriculum. Findings from research commissioned by the NCCA showed that the quality of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for Whitecross NS has reached an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b), which includes the pre-qualification of contractors and the preparation of tender documents. In May 2017, the Department gave approval to the school authorities to have their Design Team commence the process of Pre-Qualification of Contractors and I am informed by the Design...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The normal practice is for the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 to be announced towards the end of the year if funding permits. Over the next number of weeks the issue of the Minor Works Grant will be considered in the context of my Department's overall capital position.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: This Government is committed to building upon our provision of STEM education in primary, post-primary and third level education in order to ensure that we have the graduates to fulfil the existing and growing needs in STEM and to remove the obstacles which have so far served to limit the involvement of young women in the STEM area.  The soon to be published STEM Education Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: If a school authority are concerned about the presence of Japanese Knotweed on their school site they should contact the environmental section of their local authority in the first instance for guidance on its identification and eradication. If the costs associated with the necessary works are substantial it is open to the school authority to submit an application for funding under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has been working with South Dublin County Council to acquire the site on which the school is currently located in temporary accommodation in order to facilitate the development of a permanent building for the primary school.   The disposal of the site to my Department has been approved by South Dublin County Council. However, title issues...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System (GIS) to identify where the pressure for school places across the country will arise. The GIS uses data from a range of sources, including the Central Statistics...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Process (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 was published on 6th July 2016 and passed Committee Stage on 28th June 2017. At Committee Stage I indicated that I intend to bring a number of important amendments to the Bill at Report Stage. My officials are continuing to engage with the Office of the Attorney General in relation to these amendments.  Once the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been tendered and a preferred bidder was initially selected. However, before the project proceeded to site the preferred bidder withdrew from the tender competition. The Design Team is currently examining the 2nd lowest tender and subject to no issues arising it is envisaged that the project will commence...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Given that it has not yet been possible to restore grant funding levels in the schools sector due to the many other competing priorities for available funding the review referred to by the Deputy has not yet taken place. However, it has been agreed with the JMB that any future improvements in funding should be directed in the first instance at the elimination of the salary grant deduction...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers is currently located on the Notre Dame campus, Upper Churchtown Road, Dublin 14 pending completion of the permanent accommodation for the school at the St. Tiernan’s Community School site in Balally.  Outline planning permission for a new primary school at the site in Balally was submitted to the relevant local authority in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Broadband Service Provision (23 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Through the Schools Broadband Access Programme the Department provides for the supply of internet connectivity for all recognised primary and post primary schools, and some 98% of schools are included in this scheme.  All post-primary schools and some special schools are now included in the 100Mbps programme. The policy of this Department is to offer the best quality...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: First-Aid Training (28 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. The Board of Management of each school is responsible for the care and safety of all of the students in their school and care and safety should be at the centre of all policy and practices. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) advise that, by law, employers and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (28 Nov 2017)

Richard Bruton: The position is that to qualify for funding towards tuition fees, students must be first-time undergraduates, hold inter alia EU/EEA/Swiss nationality in their own right, and have been ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to an approved third level course. These rules apply to all students from all EU/EEA/Swiss states....