Results 22,981-23,000 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Project Ireland 2040: Statements (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: This is a significant change. For the first time we are trying to match our ambition for the way in which the country should develop with €116 billion worth of investment. This is very ambitious. The Acting Chairman and I have sat through many a development plan or strategic plan for the country that did not have a brass ha'penny put in behind it. This time those things are joined...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Staff (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The supplementary assignment arrangements for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) were established on foot of proposals brought forward by the Labour Relations Commission when the Haddington Road Agreement was being agreed. These supplementary assignment arrangements for SNAs continue to operate under the Lansdowne Road Agreement, and both unions representing SNAs, namely SIPTU and IMPACT, have...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Irish Research Council (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The information requested by the Deputy for the years 2012 to 2017 is outlined in the attached document. The information for 2018 is not readily available at this stage. It is important that the IRC is in a position to communicate regarding the programmes which it operates, and to promote new programmes to prospective applicants, both at home and abroad. Irish Research Council Expenditure on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Admissions (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: In relation to school admissions, parents can choose which school to apply to and where the school has places available the pupil should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available a selection process may be necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (21 Feb 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 and my Department will continue to work with the school and its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school to which the Deputy refers was recently given approval to install temporary accommodation to facilitate the school's expansion. A letter devolving authority for the installation of this accommodation to the Board of Management has issued to the school. The letter indicated that where a Board of Management finds it necessary to engage the services of a consultant, the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Emergency Works Scheme Funding (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: In January 2017 the school applied for funding under my Department’s Emergency Works Scheme for window, toilet and heating works. However, this application was unsuccessful as the Emergency Works Scheme is strictly to deal with sudden and unforeseen emergencies in schools. The works sought were upgrade works and these are appropriate to any future Summer Works Schemes My...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 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. In the context of progressing the project, a school site visit, by my Department's technical staff, has been undertaken. The next step involves the formulation of the project brief including the schedules of accommodation and this process is in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school in question is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme. Arising from the national demographic exercise involving all planning areas, including the area where the school is located, at primary and post-primary level, my Department is reviewing the long term pupil enrolment for the school in question. My Department expects...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: A building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has approved 8 general mainstream classrooms as a first phase of the project. This project will be devolved to Cork Education and Training Board for delivery.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, the 2012 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, my...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Chairman and committee members for their invitation to attend. I will not make any quips about waiting all day for a bus because in this case it is absolutely justified to have four buses come along at once. In the submission that has been circulated I point out that one of the things that my Department is increasingly emphasising is well-being within the whole education system....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will try to be brief. While I do not contest the case made and I accept that teachers are important, students and parents are also very important. We have this built into the webwise.ie activity targeting parents. As I described, the student ambassadors probably have as much leverage as teachers in the school community - it is certainly significant. On the issue of providing more...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: The one thing we can be sure about is that change is proceeding slower now than it will in the future. I do not believe that we can close out technology and not come to terms with it. The jury is out on whether or not a ban is the way to come to terms with the issue. Technically it is up to each school and this is not a bad approach. There would be issues around banning phones. The...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: HEAnet provides a content screening service for schools. I will ask if we have something to learn from what Germany does in this regard.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I should have dealt with the point raised by Senator Devine on the extension of MissionPossible. I will revert to her in that regard. Several resources such as the Incredible Years programme are being rolled out, beginning with DEIS schools. Well-being guidelines for primary schools are available and a well-being policy through which concerns or suggestions raised can be considered will be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am not in any way an expert in this field but HEAnet provide filtering services to schools. I presume that were it to be extended to parents, it would be the responsibility of the equipment provider and not HEAnet; HEAnet does not provide a central service to every household in the country. The filtering capacity would have to be in the equipment procured rather than an education or...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: No, I will have to revert to the committee.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: Is the Senator saying the Department could provide this product as an add-on to the services of an Internet provider?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs: Cybersecurity for Children and Young Adults: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2018)

Richard Bruton: If the committee sends a letter I will revert to the committee.