Results 23,321-23,340 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department received a number of requests last month in respect of change of status proposals from within a particular school planning area; the school referred to by the Deputy was one of the requests received. I wish to advise that approval for a change of status is required from the Patron. In light of the number of schools seeking such a change my...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Staff (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: In 1978 and 1979, schemes were initiated for the employment of Clerical Officers and Caretakers in primary and secondary schools. Staff employed on these schemes are paid directly by my Department and are not paid via grant funding. The 1978 and 1979 schemes are being phased out and have been superseded by a more extensive capitation grant scheme. The majority of primary and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, a site to accommodate the building project for the school to which he refers was identified with the assistance of officials from the relevant local authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites. On the basis of the agreement in principle which was reached with the landowner, preliminary design work in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to the patron body, Educate Together, for delivery. The Patron body has appointed a consultant to deliver the accommodation project. A planning application has been submitted for temporary school accommodation which will consist of 12 classrooms with en-suite toilets, staffroom, 4 support rooms, Principals' office,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Primary Language Curriculum for Junior Infants to 2ndClass was introduced in September 2016. All schools were provided with hard copies of the curriculum, one for each teacher, in the spring of 2016. Copies were also made available to Teacher Training Colleges to provide trainee teachers with copies. My Department currently has less than 100 copies remaining and currently there are no...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Data (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: Seven major school building projects at Architectural Planning Stage have been required to apply to local authorities for an extension of duration of planning permission due to delays. The detail of each project are listed in the attached spreadsheet. While it is a rare occurrence, it can happen that a project may experience delays following a grant of planning permission for a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The current Summer Works Scheme (SWS) 2016 -2017 was applied on a multi-annual basis. The Deputy will 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: Schools Establishment (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 to 260, inclusive, and 262 to 264, inclusive, together. As the Deputies may be aware, in order to plan for school provision and analyse the relevant demographic data, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas. My Department uses a Geographical Information System to identify where the pressure for school places across the country...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Placement (27 Mar 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: School Patronage (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department understands that the school referred to by the Deputy is in the ownership of the Archdiocese of Armagh.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in the Department’s 6 year construction programme. Officials in the Department continue to work closely with officials in the relevant local authority in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding in relation to the acquisition of a suitable location for the school. Due to commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: State Examinations (27 Mar 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: School Staff (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together. Circular 0059/2009 set out the disciplinary procedures for teachers employed by Vocational Education Committees (VEC). A separate Circular (Circular 60/2009) sets out the disciplinary procedures for non-VEC teachers. The procedures were negotiated and agreed with the education partners in accordance with Section 24(3) of the Education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project to provide permanent accommodation for the school in question is included in my Department’s 6 Year Construction Programme. In this regard, the schedule of accommodation for the new school has been finalised. As agreed with the school authority, the schedule of accommodation issued to the school authority...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has recently contacted all of the primary schools in the Swords area to review their projected enrolments for September 2018. The schools concerned generally commenced their enrolment process for the new junior infants in early January of this year and this process is not yet complete. In that regard, the level of demand for all schools is not available at this point. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The school referred to by the Deputy forms part of Schools Bundle 5, the PPP project which has been impacted by the liquidation of Carillion.  The Dutch Infrastructure Fund (DIF), representing the PPP Company responsible for delivery of Schools Bundle 5, is currently implementing a rectification plan to secure service commencement on the five school buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: The building project referred to by the Deputy is for a new sixteen classroom school building and a two classroom special needs unit. The project is currently at Stage 2B of Architectural Planning - Detailed Design Stage, which includes applications for all statutory consents, including Planning Permission, Disability Access Certificate and Fire Safety Certificate and also the preparation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (27 Mar 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 building project, my Department has undertaken a site visit to the school. The building project will be devolved to Kildare Wicklow Education Training Board (KWETB) for delivery and it is my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that in cases where an ASD unit is approved as an extension to a mainstream school the existing available school accommodation is considered in order to establish the level of additional accommodation to be provided. It is considered that a centrally located space can be used to promote contact with mainstream students.  This space can be used by teaching...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Information and Communications Technology (27 Mar 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department is responsible for teaching and learning in schools.  In this regard, there is a prescribed curriculum in place that covers a broad range of learning needs including the use of technologies and wellbeing. My Department has a broad suite of policies to support the safe and appropriate use of digital technologies in schools. For example, the SPHE...