Results 22,501-22,520 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy is an ETB school. ETB schools are not funded directly by my Department but are funded via pay and non-pay budget allocations provided to each ETB. Pay budgets are provided to ETBs in accordance with approved staffing complements. Non-pay current funding is provided as part of a block grant that covers ETB overheads and other activities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: In respect of the Schools Bundle 5 PPP programme, a contract exists between my Department and the Principal contractor, Inspiredspaces. Inspiredspaces is the name of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for the design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance of the programme. The company referred to by the Deputy has been a 50% shareholder in InspiredSpaces. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department replied to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy on 9th January 2018. I do recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Refurbishment (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, the school in question applied for significant capital funding for various improvement works. The matter of phasing and prioritising the works was discussed with the school during a visit by my Department's technical division. An area of priority that the school wish to see addressed relates to insulation works. My Department spoke with the school principal...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (23 Jan 2018)

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 Status (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school building project to which the Deputy refers is currently at tender stage. Tenders for this project are currently being assessed. Assuming no further issues arise and the contract is awarded the project will thereafter proceed to construction in Quarter 1 of 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

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. The Design Team has submitted written confirmation that it has completed a final review and is satisfied that the tender documents are complete, correct and in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the amalgamation process involving the Cahir schools will be finalised with the delivery of the major school building project. In that regard, the major building project is currently at Architectural Planning, Stage 2A, which is the Developed Sketch Design Stage. The Board of Management and Design Team are currently working on the Stage 2A report for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: To qualify for the special rate of grant under the 2017 scheme, an applicant’s reckonable income has to be less than €23,000 and include on the 31stof December 2016, one of the specified long-term social welfare payments prescribed in the scheme. Partial Capacity Benefit is a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) payment. To qualify for Partial Capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, the project to which he refers was announced as part of my Department's Six Year Capital Programme in 2015. Officials in my Department continue to work closely with officials from the relevant local authority under the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable permanent location for the school to which the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department has received correspondence, including a report, from the group referred to by the Deputy and that a response issued on the 9th November 2017. As the Deputy may be aware, 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am delighted to be able to introduce Computer Science as a new optional Leaving Certificate subject. A Computer Science Steering Group, chaired by my Department, has met on six occasions to date and is overseeing an implementation plan for the new specification. 40 schools have been selected for Phase 1 implementation of the new subject from September of this year. My Department's Teacher...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is currently developing a new primary mathematics curriculum which will include elements of creative and computational thinking, which underpin coding and computer science. The NCCA will also be working with a network of schools during this school year to explore different approaches to integrating coding in the primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department is aware that a large number of schools are running voluntary coding programmes through initiatives such as Coder Dojo (which has over 200 “dojos” in Ireland), Hour of Code, where over 200 events took place in Ireland, and the annual computer programming Olympiad held at Dublin City University. However, decisions to participate in such initiatives are decided...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Junior Cycle Reform (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The implementation of the new Junior Cycle which is well underway brings a renewed focus on ensuring that all students are engaged and making progress in accordance with their potential. A short course on Coding developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is available to schools to implement as part of their Junior Cycle programme. The course aims to develop the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: At primary school level, the Social, Environmental and Scientific Education area of the curriculum which includes the Science Curriculum enables the child to learn and practice a wide range of skills and to acquire open, critical and responsible attitudes. The content of the Science curriculum is broken into four main strands /areas of learning: Living Things, Energy and Forces, Materials and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that the Back to Work Family Dividend (BTWFD) is a Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) payment. The scheme aims to help families to move from social welfare into employment. It is available to jobseekers and lone parents who take up or increase the level of their employment and is payable for up to 2 years only. The payment is not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Deputy is referring to two school projects in Belmayne. It is expected that a contract will be awarded in the first quarter of 2018 and work will commence on site. The construction period is 12 months with anticipated occupation of the permanent accommodation by the schools in Q1 2019. My officials have been in contact with the schools concerned recently to bring them up...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (23 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy is part of the current Schools Bundle 5 PPP programme. In respect of that programme, a contract exists between my Department and the Principal contractor, Inspiredspaces. Inspiredspaces is the name of the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) responsible for the design, construction, finance, operation and maintenance of the programme. The company referred...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (23 Jan 2018)

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. In 2012/13, my Department undertook surveys of parental preferences in 44...