Results 22,841-22,860 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Where a school is approved, it is always approved for a certain capacity in terms of its intake. That is to ensure we provide schools in line with the demographic needs of each area and that is always clear when the school is approved. On the wider issue raised by Deputy Cassells, we have a new patronage model. We are commencing surveys across the country to encourage the live transfer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Governance (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 181 together. My Department Officials have requested DCU to provide details in relation to the relationship of the university with the institute referred to by the Deputy. Upon receipt of the details I arrange for the information to be issued directly to the Deputy in a timely manner.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I negotiated together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. The agreements to date have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver full equality at later points...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that details of expenditure on temporary accommodation, at the school referred to, are available on my Department’s Financial Management System from 2003. The details of any costs incurred between 2000 and 2003 cannot be readily located. The available information is set out in the following table. I wish to advise that the amounts include both rental and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school 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 my Department and comments have issued to the school and its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Applications (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As part of a comprehensive customer service and communications strategy provided by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI), to ensure that all necessary avenues are open to applicants to receive the information they need, a dedicated email and phone line service is provided by SUSI for Oireachtas members. This was established to meet an identified need for applicants who choose to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The tabular statement contains details of expenditure at my Department on photography and associated matters since 2016 as requested by the Deputy. Details of such expenditure in connection with bodies under the aegis of the Department are not collated centrally. Therefore, I have requested officials at my Department to request the information from the bodies concerned and I will forward...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology Funding (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As part of the review of capital funding requirements in Higher Education Institutions, Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT) submitted a proposal outlining the refurbishment of the North and South Block as a priority for capital funding should it become available. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) recently met with representatives of DKIT in order to progress consideration of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The teacher Unions have recently raised the issue of further mobility of both Primary and Post Primary teachers at the Teacher Conciliation Council (TCC). The TCC  is part of the scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers and was set up to deal with claims and proposals relating to the Terms and Conditions of employment of teachers. The Council is composed of representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Professional Development (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Over 5,000 additional teachers have been successfully recruited in the last two years and the numbers of graduates from initial teacher education programmes have remained broadly constant. In both 2018 and 2019 it is estimated that the number of graduates will be in the region of 1,850 primary and 1,500 post primary teachers. The Deputy will be aware that in November 2017 I launched a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Protected Disclosures (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 became operational in July 2014. Under section 2 of the Act, the Minister for the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is required to  commence a review of the operation of the Act not later than three years from when the Act was passed. Accordingly, a consultation process was undertaken by that Department’s during 2017 and a report will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy applied for capital funding to replace prefabs and to upgrade its existing classroom accommodation. The school was advised that it is my Department's intention to replace all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established, over the lifetime of the Department's Capital Programme (2016-2021). To enable...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that building projects for the schools referred to by the Deputy are included in my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. Primarily, the purpose of the building projects is to provide additional accommodation as well as the replacement of current temporary accommodation. The development of the project brief must have regard to the continuance of the existing schools...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Governance (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Governance (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: University Governance (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Staff Recruitment (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Administration (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is being applied on a multi-annual basis. The Deputy will also be aware that nearly 50% of schools have applied for inclusion under the scheme which reflects a very high demand. Almost €80 million has been approved to date under the Summer Works Scheme, in respect of over 640 school projects in categories 1 - 6. Details of the successful school...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Support Schemes (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The main support to students attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Student Grant Scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding, provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment (progression) and means. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Guidance Counsellors (13 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 193 together. Measures announced by my Department as part of Budget 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 and outside of the quota on the normal schedule of posts. The provision of 1...