Results 22,541-22,560 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capitation Grants (24 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation by €8 per pupil in primary schools is circa €4.7m. The estimated cost of increasing the rate of capitation by €14 per pupil in post-primary schools is circa €5.1m. I recognise the need to improve capitation funding for schools having regard to the reductions that were necessary over recent years. Budget 2018...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Funding (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Institute referred to by the Deputy is a body corporate established under the Institute for Advanced Studies Act, 1940.  The Institute, through its three constituent schools, pursues fundamental research in specialised branches of knowledge and trains advanced students in methods of original research. The Institute is an academic publisher of monographs, books and journals...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (25 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: Schools Building Projects Administration (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department is working closely with Meath County Council to progress the proposal to facilitate housing units on the site adjacent to the school site referred to by the Deputy. There has been ongoing positive and constructive engagement between senior officials in my Department and Meath County Council in that regard. Arising from recent discussions on the matter, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Applications (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to inform that Deputy that the school in question was recently approved a grant under my Department's Emergency Works Grant Scheme to carry out the works to which she refers. The school has been informed of my Department's decision.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Closures (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department is continuing to engage with the Patron of the school in question in relation to issues arising, including the school's future viability.   I also wish to advise the Deputy that the decision making authority for a school closure belongs to the Patron of a school, and this is subject to the agreement of the Department. Any proposal to close a school must involve...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 82 together. In the past five years, my Department has not had to terminate or retender any school building projects arising from liquidation events.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: There are no contractual disputes on the project to which the Deputy refers.  The main contractor is dealing with a defect with the roofing installation. An independent review of the roof has been undertaken by an established UK roofing expert and a separate investigation has been undertaken by an expert appointed by the contractor’s insurers. The findings of these reports are...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (25 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Funding (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is presumed that the educational funding to which the Deputy refers relates to the Clinical Psychologist Traineeship programme operated within the Health Service Executive. As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is a school-based educational psychological service to all first and second level schools.  The NEPS mission is to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Department has been working closely with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council under the memorandum of understanding on the acquisition of a permanent site. Engagement with the council commenced as far back as 2012. The Senator will appreciate that in this highly urban area there is limited availability of suitable sites. Coupled with the high demand for land generally in the...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (25 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will keep in touch with the Senator.

Topical Issue Debate: Company Closures (30 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank all the Deputies who contributed and many more as well for their views. The Minister of State, Deputy Doyle, the Minster, Deputy Harris, Deputy Deering, the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, the Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe, and many others have raised this with me. I do not in any way undervalue the concern. I welcome those associated with the schools to the Gallery. Every...

Topical Issue Debate: Company Closures (30 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I must clarify a few points. I wish to reassure Deputy Byrne that the Dutch Infrastructure Fund, DIF, has been mandated by the funders to put together the rectification plan. It is being put together as quickly as possible, so there is no question of funders anywhere not being interested in this. To answer the question of whether we are at the mercy of funders, that is not the case....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Comhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (30 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: Tá dhá bhall déag ar bhord COGG. Reáchtálann an Coimisiún um Cheapacháin Seirbhíse Poiblí comórtas chun cathaoirleach an Bhoird a roghnú. Ba in 2015 a ceapadh an bord deiridh agus is i mí na Nollag 2018 a rachaidh a dtéarma oifige in éag. Ceapfar bord nua an t-am sin. Fuair PAS trí iarratas ar chathaoirleacht COGG...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (30 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the school concerned is located in a former primary school building that was secured as part of Government policy on school divesting. The property is subject to a 10 year lease between the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) and the Minister for Education and Skills. As the Deputy is aware, the school has submitted an application to my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (30 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: The main support available to assist students with the cost of higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. In 2017 SUSI provided some €370 million in student supports that benefitted more than 78,000 students. Students attending approved undergraduate courses in Northern Ireland can apply for a maintenance grant provided they meet the terms and conditions of the Student Grant...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (30 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 is currently working on the Stage 2b report which will be submitted through the Board of Management to my Department. Upon receipt and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Reviews (30 Jan 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 to 217, inclusive, together. The purpose of the Career Guidance review is to ensure that we are providing high quality, relevant career guidance to all students and adults from post–primary up to further and higher education level. The review will look at existing career guidance tools and career information currently in place across the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (30 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...