Results 22,741-22,760 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teacher Recruitment (1 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, I intend to establish a Teacher Supply Steering Group to implement a strategy to deal with issues being faced by primary schools in hiring substitute teachers and issues at post primary level regarding reported difficulties for schools hiring in certain subject areas. As part of its remit, the Group will consult with key stakeholders....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Creative Ireland Programme (1 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: In December 2016 the Government approved a new five-year initiative entitled Clár Éire Ildánach/Creative Ireland Programme, as a legacy project arising from the Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. The Programme is an ‘all-of-Government’ initiative to mainstream creativity in the life of the nation.  The underlying proposition is that participation in cultural...

Order of Business (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge that the report on Irish was different from those in the other subjects where we saw consistent improvement, in English, in mathematics etc. In relation to Irish, there was an improvement at second level but no improvement at primary level and this is a cause of concern raised by the inspector. In terms of the policy to address this, we have new curricula at both primary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Direct Provision System (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Pilot Support Scheme was introduced by my Department in 2015 for students who are in the Protection System or at the Leave to Remain (but not deportation order) stage. This was one of the recommendations contained in the report by the Working Group on the Protection Process which was chaired by former High Court judge Dr Bryan McMahon. The scheme provides supports to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Higher Education PPP programme is currently in the pre-procurement phase, with the focus on confirming the detailed Schedules of Accommodation for each project. This PPP programme was provided for in the Government’s Capital Plan for 2016-2021 and is expected to deliver some 8,000 student places across the Institute of Technology sector. The Higher Education PPP Programme is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department's funding relationship with the Education and Training Board concerned regarding the organisation referred to by the Deputy is predicated on the basis that it is self-financing and that its financial activities are separate from the overall ETB finances. Accordingly, annual grants for same are contributory in nature.  Generally, only...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The former school to which the Deputy refers is not in my ownership, therefore any plans are a matter for the registered owner.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.  The NCSE...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Childhood Care and Education (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department's Home Tuition Grant Scheme provides funding towards a compensatory educational service for (a) Early educational intervention for children with a diagnosis of autism who meet the scheme's eligibility criteria; (b) Students with special educational needs seeking an educational placement in a recognised school; (c) Students, enrolled in schools, with a significant medical...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations Commission (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. In view of this I have forwarded your query to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff Data (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware my Department’s National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) provides educational psychological support to all primary and post-primary schools. This involves direct support in the event of a critical incident, access to national and regional support and development work to build school capacity to support students, access to a NEPS psychologist for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the project to which she refers has been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (LMETB). The project has been delayed mainly due to design issues. Having tendered for the project, the need for additional security features for the proposed building became apparent. These required a change in brief with the consequent design...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards Data (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Head office functions for Louth and Meath ETB currently operate from Dundalk and Navan. There are therefore no staff involved in the areas listed by the Deputy based in offices in Drogheda.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Patronage (6 Feb 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 this context, in 2012/13, the Department of Education and Skills...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application for the provision of additional accommodation at the school referred to, which includes the provision of general classroom and special needs accommodation. My Department met with the ETB involved and the scope of works relating to the project is currently being finalised.  My Department will be in further contact with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are provided to assist recognised schools to cater for pupils with disabilities, who have additional and significant care needs, in an educational context and where the nature of these care needs have been outlined in medical and other professional reports as being so significant that a pupil will require additional adult assistance in order to be able to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently submitted an application for additional accommodation. The application will be considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school authority as soon as the assessment process has been completed. In the meantime, my Department has liaised directly with the school in the context of any immediate works required...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department understands that Louth Meath Education Training Board (LMETB) is entitled to be the registered owner of the site in question. My Department also understands that LMETB is also currently considering the future use of this property.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's 6 Year Construction Programme. The next stage involves the preparation of the project brief. This is part of the preparatory work required to facilitate the progression of the project into the architectural planning process and my Department will be in further contact with the...