Results 22,261-22,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has a regional office of the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) based at Drogheda. Presently the staffing cohort at the office consists of 1 Senior Educational Psychologist, 7 Educational Psychologists and 1 Clerical Officer.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Discipline (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. Circular 0059/2009 set out the disciplinary procedures for teachers employed by Vocational Education Committees (VEC). A separate Circular (Circular 60/2009) sets out the disciplinary procedures for non-VEC teachers. The procedures were negotiated and agreed with the education partners in accordance with Section 24(3) of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Fee Refund Scheme (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The purpose of the Teacher Fee Refund Scheme is to provide funding towards the cost of course participation and examination fees on successful completion of professional development courses that are directly relevant and of benefit to schools and that are subject to certification/award by an appropriate accreditation authority recognised by my Department. Applications for funding under...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Creative Ireland Programme (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: My Department has supported the Creative Ireland programme throughout 2017 with funding for two elements of the Creative Youth programme. Two teachers were seconded to the Arts Council in September of this year to begin work on Scoileanna Ildánacha/Creative Schools. This initiative will begin a pilot cohort of 150 schools across primary and post-primary levels in 2018. ...

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

Richard Bruton: The information that the Deputy has requested is set out in tabular form. Act Sections yet to be commenced Details Teaching Council Act 2001 Sections 39 This section relates to the continuing education, training and professional development of teachers. In relation to commencement, regard will be had to the development by the Teaching Council of Cosán, the national framework for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pay (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The Public Service Pay and Pensions Bill 2017, which gives effect to the pay measures contained in the Public Service Stability Agreement 2018-2020 (PSSA), is currently being considered by the Oireachtas. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has overall responsibility for the Bill. The PSSA provides a framework for further negotiation on a number of issues, including new entrant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Expenditure (14 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 supporting activities. The internal allocation of this grant is a matter for each institution. However, details of expenditure incurred in respect of counselling services in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The current staff:student ratio in the higher education sector is 21:1. This is calculated based on the 2016/17 enrolment figures.  This is based on the ratio of full time students to core teaching staff. A breakdown of the ratio for the years 2013 - 2017 is detailed for information. Higher education is a priority for this Government. Budget 2017 provided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Higher Education Schemes (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: HEAR is a college and university admissions scheme offering places on reduced points and extra college support to school leavers from socio-economically disadvantages backgrounds.  The HEAR scheme is operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) and regulated by the higher education institutions themselves and not by my Department. The operational management of HEAR...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of architectural planning Stage 2b (Detailed Design), which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. The Stage 2b submission has been reviewed by the Department and in August 2017 my Department issued comments on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that I have received the correspondence referred to and a response has issued.   The school in question has opted to participate in the Gaeltacht School Recognition Scheme which provides schools with the opportunity to access extra supports and resources on the basis of the implementation of specified language-based criteria. To date, these resources have included...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy were requested to submit architectural size site drawings recently for each of the proposed options and these have now been received. It is now proposed to arrange for a site visit by a member of the Department's Professional and Technical staff to review the options presented. When this is completed my Department will be in contact with the school...

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

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

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Minor Works Scheme (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: There are significant demands placed on the 2018 education capital budget due to demographic pressures, and the imperative of ensuring a school place for every child. I indicated to the House last week that it is unlikely the Minor Works Grant 2018/2019 will issue during the 2018 calendar year and that it will probably have to be paid early in 2019. I should point out...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Universal Support Ireland (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The 2017 scheme was published on the 31stof March 2017. Details of this scheme can be accessed via the SUSI website athttps://susi.ie/resources/.  It is anticipated that the 2018 Scheme & Regulations will be published in late March or early April 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The assessment of means under my Department's student grant scheme is based on gross income from all sources, with certain social welfare and health service executive payments excluded. In the assessment of means, a deduction of up to €4,500 may be applied to student earnings outside of term time but within the reference period.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The table contains details of expenditure by my Department in relation to photography as requested by the Deputy. Cost Breakdown Year Event Photographer Net VAT Gross 25/08/2017 Minister Bruton Portraits Maxwell Photography € 182.00 €  41.86 €223.86 28/08/2017 Minister Mitchell O'Connor Portraits Maxwell Photography € 154.00 €  35.42...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: The engagement of external expertise is considered where the matters involved require expert skills or capabilities that are not readily available within my Department. Such engagement is procured in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Finance "Guidelines for the Engagement of Consultants and other External Support by the Civil Service". The information sought by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: Details of consultancy payments made by my Department for the years 2011 to 2016 inclusive are available on the Department's website . Information in relation to consultancy expenditure is compiled annually in respect of the previous year. Details in respect of consultants engaged in 2017 will be compiled in Q1 2018 and will be published as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (14 Dec 2017)

Richard Bruton: Details in relation to advertising for information campaigns in 2017 in my Department will be collated in early 2018. I will arrange to have the information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it has been compiled.