Results 22,161-22,180 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to have been in a position to significantly expand the recruitment of teachers at primary and post primary levels. Some 2,300 new teachers were recruited in 2016-2017 and 2,900 are being recruited in 2017-2018. The 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...

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

Richard Bruton: Maynooth Community College opened in 2014 with an Irish-medium Aonad and it was stated that should the Aonad demonstrate sufficient viability after four years from its date of establishment, a Gaelcholáiste would be established, in a partnership patronage model between Kildare and Wicklow ETB and An Foras Pátrúnachta.  As part of the Major School Building Projects...

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Capital Programme continues to address the challenge posed by a rapidly increasing school population. To meet this demographic challenge, my Department’s Capital Investment Programme (2016-2021), details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process towards tender and construction including...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Expenditure (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The first school to which the Deputy refers was granted funding for roof works under the Summer Works Scheme (2016-2017) and subsequently applied to my Department for additional funding to meet tender costs.  My Department's Professional and Technical Staff have assessed this application and have advised that the project should be retendered to achieve...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Dec 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. Following the site visit to the school by my Department, the preliminary work associated with the project has been initiated. This includes determining how the accommodation needs of the school will be met and this process is in train. My...

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

Richard Bruton: The revised proposal to which the Deputy refers and which was requested of the school by my Department in July 2017, has not been received. My Department will review the revised proposal in timely matter when the school submits it.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 141 together. It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: Budget 2018 marks the second year of major reinvestment in the education sector, as we continue to implement the Action Plan for Education, which has the central aim to make the Irish Education and training service the best in Europe within a decade. Budget 2018 provides for an additional 1280 teaching posts in the 2018/19 school year. This includes a one point improvement in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: Measures announced by my Department as part of Budgets 2016, 2017 and 2018 mean that 500 of the 600 guidance posts that was withdrawn in Budget 2012, will be restored to schools from September 2018. All of these 500 posts are allocated separately and transparently on the normal staffing schedule of posts for schools.  These posts have been ring-fenced so they can only be used for...

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Capital Programme continues to address the challenge posed by a rapidly increasing school population. To meet this demographic challenge, my Department’s Capital Investment Programme (2016-2021), details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process towards tender and construction. The Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Skills Development (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The education system at all levels has developed a number of strategies to meet the existing and future skills demands in the workplace, including the National Skills Strategy 2025 and the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019. One of the key actions in the National Skills Strategy 2025 is a commitment to provide 50,000 modern apprenticeship and traineeship places to 2020. Craft apprenticeship...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (6 Dec 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: Schools Building Projects (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Capital Programme continues to address the challenge posed by a rapidly increasing school population. To meet this demographic challenge, my Department's Capital Investment Programme (2016-2021), details the school projects that are being progressed through the architectural planning process towards tender and construction. The Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (6 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: Third level education is constantly evolving in accordance with emerging best practices and national priorities to ensure that graduates, and the institutions themselves, are best placed to meet the needs and demands of the global marketplace.  The system performance framework articulates the expectations from the Third Level system across all areas of activity and from across...

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The minor works grant scheme is a discretionary scheme that is paid most years. It is paid for the school year, between September and June each year. As I confirmed this week, the payment for 2017 to 2018 will go ahead. I indicated that the payment for the 2018 to 2019 year will be conditional on availability of money, as it always is, and there is a possibility that it will not be paid...

Business of Dáil (7 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: It is proposed, notwithstanding anything in Standing Orders and provided that the debate on Second Stage of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 does not conclude tomorrow, that the Dáil shall sit at 12 noon on Tuesday, 12 December 2017, to take the resumed Second Stage debate of the Bill and should it conclude before 2 p.m., the House shall suspend until 2 p.m.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (7 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I have received a copy of the research report prepared by the team involved in the Adult Learning BA (ALBA) for Personal and Professional Development.  The ALBA Programme was offered at All Hallows College in Drumcondra and was accredited by DCU.  When All Hallows College closed, DCU facilitated the completion of ALBA by existing students.  The ALBA Programme sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Residential Institutions Redress Scheme (7 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: Caranua is an independent statutory body established under the Residential Institutions Statutory Fund Act 2012. The legislation provides that €110 million in contributions from religious congregations will be made available to Caranua to help meet the needs of persons who, as children, were abused in residential institutions. To date some €101million, comprising contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Authority Expenditure (7 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement to the HEA institutions. The HEA allocates this as a block grant to institutions to cover teaching, research and administration. The internal allocation of this grant is a matter for each institution.  Higher education institutions are autonomous institutions and my Department does...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (7 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 77, 81, 82, 87, 88 and 90 together. I am pleased to advise that on Tuesday I announced the Minor Works Grant 2017/2018 for primary schools across the country and payment will issue next week. The funding will allow minor works to be carried out on the physical infrastructure of schools or on the purchase of items of furniture and equipment.