Results 23,261-23,280 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: National Development Plan Data (20 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 to 2027 includes a number of key investment envelopes for the education sector as follows: - School building programme: €8.4 billion - Digital Strategy for Schools: €420 million - Higher Education Infrastructure: €2.2 billion (excluding PPPs) - FET capital: €300 million The purpose of the plan is to set out an...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Good progress has been made in terms of access, which was the initial part of the Deputy's question. There has been a 32% increase in the number of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds going through third level in the past four years and a 55% increase in the number of students with a disability so there is significant improvement. Unfortunately, the matter which the Deputy raises...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that in the budget we made provision for a €100 million increase in the current spending for the third level sector. In addition, on the investment side we have made provision for a €200 million investment in the institutes of technology under a PPP arrangement, investing in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, STEM, and other facilities in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am aware that for many years a restriction has applied under the July scheme. I understand, however, that it has been established policy for a considerable period and that the policy is based on recommendations made by the National Council for Special Education. In the light of the Deputy's request, I will ask the NCSE to review the position.

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge that the investment in school facilities has been an important feature of recent years. I assure the Deputy that we are sustaining the high level of building. Indeed, we have completed over 200 new schools, comprising more than 120,000 additional places. In terms of financial provision, almost €8.5 billion will be provided...

Topical Issue Debate: Schools Building Projects Status (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I assure the Deputy that money is not a constraint on meeting this requirement. Delays can be frustrating for schools, but there are always delays in site acquisition, particularly in Dublin where site availability is scarce. It can take time. There can also be frustrations with the planning and design processes and so on. I assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to this...

Topical Issue Debate: School Curriculum (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Deputy McLoughlin for raising the issue. I will clarify a number of things. It is not a pilot scheme; it is phase one of a model that will go countrywide from 2020. It is a testing of a concept that has been developed by the NCCA of a new physical education curriculum, both an examinable curriculum at leaving certificate and also a framework for students who choose not to do the...

Topical Issue Debate: School Curriculum (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand what the Deputy is saying. If it was being allocated on the basis of giving every county a fair shot and one county was being left out, the Deputy would rightly feel aggrieved, but that was not the approach. It is a model that will go countrywide. What we are trying to do in the first phase is get a selection of schools across a range of school types to ensure we have ironed...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Property (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that I have agreed in principle to release my interest in the school building referred to by the Deputy. Officials in my Department have been in contact with the property owner's representative to inform them of the steps which need to be taken in order to release my interest in the property.  The legal process required to release my...

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

Richard Bruton: The major building project to which the Deputy refers to is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2(b) detailed design stage, which includes the application for statutory approvals and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been secured. Following the receipt and review of a Brief Change report, the Design Team is currently revising the Stage...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the NCSE Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities. The NCSE employs SENOs to provide a nationwide system of local services....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 Mar 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 in respect of both classroom and ancillary accommodation. When assessing the application it was noted that the existing school accommodation comprises of four mainstream classrooms, two Special Education Teaching (SET) rooms, a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff Appeals Mechanism (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The criteria used for the allocation of teaching posts is published annually on the Department website. The key factor for determining the level of staffing resources provided at individual school level is the staffing schedule for the relevant school year and pupil enrolments on the previous 30 September. The staffing schedule operates in a clear and transparent manner and treats all...

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

Richard Bruton: This Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential is a key priority for this government. My Department's policy aims to ensure that all children with Special Educational Needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school to which the Deputy refers is at an advanced stage of architectural planning, Stage 2b – Detailed Design, which includes the applications for Planning Permission, Fire Cert and Disability Access Cert and the preparation of tender documents. All statutory approvals have been obtained. The Design Team recently submitted the stage 2(b)...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Funding (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department received an application from the school in question for temporary classrooms to accommodate two additional teacher appointments in September 2018. The application has been considered and my Department has recently conveyed approval in principle for this accommodation to the school. The school has also submitted...

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

Richard Bruton: The new building for the school to which the Deputy refers together with a new primary school building on the same site has recently been devolved for delivery to the local Education and Training Board (ETB). A Service Level Agreement for the delivery of the project is currently being finalised with the ETB. The next steps are for the ETB to procure a Design...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Enrolments (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, Educate Together and my Department had a constructive meeting on Friday 16 March, 2018 concerning the case put forward by Educate Together in relation intake of students and the case the Patron body had made to increase its enrolments. Both parties reiterated their commitment to work together to increase diversity of school provision in...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Tionscadail Tógála Scoileanna (21 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Cheadaigh mo Roinn deontas suntasach cineachta i mí Mheán an Fhómhair 2014 don scoil atá igceist le haghaidh síneadh buan agus oibreacha athchóirithe a d’éascódh le gach foirgneamh réamhdhéanta a bhaint ó shuíomh na scoile. Tá mo Roinn ag fanacht le tuilleadh eolais maidir le scóip mhéadaithe na n-oibreacha....