Results 23,941-23,960 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Data (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Summer Works Scheme is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium scale building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. This scheme is additional to other capital funding schemes that are operated by the Department such as the additional accommodation scheme, Emergency Works scheme i.e. for projects of such urgency that they would prevent some or all...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: John Halligan T.D. was appointed as Minister of State with responsibility for Training, Skills, Innovation and Research and Development on the 14th June, 2017. A delegation order, S.I. No. 333/2017 - Education and Skills (Delegation of Ministerial Functions) Order 2017 - John Halligan, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills, was made on the 18th July 2017 and is in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project 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. My Department recently completed the review of the Stage 2b submission for this project and comments have issued....

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Standards in Public Office Commission (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senator Warfield. I must apologise for the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, who is unable to attend but he has asked me to respond on his behalf. Senator Warfield is familiar with the 1997 Electoral Act, which provides the framework for dealing with political donations and sets out a wide range of related matters on the funding of political parties; the reimbursement of election...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Standards in Public Office Commission (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: While I am not the line Minister, everyone recognises that in recent times we have seen a level of activity from forces outside of countries which are seeking to influence the results of elections. It provides a challenge to us as to how a political system should manage that. We, of course, value freedom of expression and the right of people to make their views known. However, there are...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Refurbishment (8 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. My Department clearly accepts that the accommodation in St. Gabriel's special school is not fit for purpose. It has spatial limitations, particularly for children with challenging behaviour. The school caters for 43 pupils and it has a strong complement of teachers and SNAs. The pupil-teacher ratio is 1:1.9 and, therefore, the State provides...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: One of these companies has gone into liquidation and the other has gone into examinership. My Department is working with all the interests involved to try to secure the quickest completion of those buildings possible. In some cases, we obviously need to sit down with the examiner to see if the latter can make a commitment to complete the work. The Department will take a decision based on...

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will have to get back to the Deputy to give her a report on that.

Questions on Promised Legislation (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: In the Louise O'Keeffe case, the legal advice to the Government was that prior notice is required. We have set up an ex gratiapayment scheme under which a number of applications have been made. Some have been paid out but we have also made provision for an appeal mechanism. Mr. Justice O'Neill is receiving those appeals and will be scrutinising them. Among those appeals are some of the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media in Education (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The use of social media by schools is a matter for the board of management of each individual school. My Department provides information to schools on the safe and ethical use of the internet generally and has a broad suite of policies to support the safe and appropriate use of digital technologies in schools.  Schools are advised on the following matters; the development and...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department’s current priority is the provision of essential classroom accommodation in areas where significant demographic need has been established to ensure that each child will have access to a physical school place. Funding is not available for the purposes referred to by the Deputy. However in situations where a school has a GP room or...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Institutes of Technology (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy will be aware, Institutes of Technology are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Institutes of Technology Acts 1992 to 2006. The management of their academic affairs, including any issues relating to the making or certification of awards, is a matter for the institutions concerned and I, as Minister, do not have any function in the matter. The position with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project for the school referred to by the Deputy is at an early stage of architectural planning - Stage 1. A revised Stage 1 submission, including an up to date cost plan, was requested from the Design Team following an increase in the schedule of accommodation to cater for up to 1200 pupils. Upon submission, presentation and review of the Stage 1 report, and subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy will be aware that a building project for the school to which he refers is included in my Department's Capital Programme. My Department is currently finalising the development of the project brief with the aim of progressing the project into architectural planning at an early stage.In that regard, my Department will also be in direct contact with the school authority shortly...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am pleased to advise that architectural planning has commenced for the school referred to by the Deputy, for delivery under the Department's Design and Build Programme. Site surveys have commenced in advance of preparing the Planning Application which will be the next key milestone in the progression of the project.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Amalgamation (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Department agreed to the proposed amalgamation of Scoil Bhride Girls and Scoil Phadraig Naofa and also the re-organisation of Presentation Primary School and St. Joseph’s CBS from the start of the school year 2018/19. The proposal was agreed subject to all 5 primary school including Scoil Oilibheir Naofa agreeing a Common Application and Enrolment Policy and having a commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 to 114, inclusive, together. I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department does not hold details relating to the information requested. As the Deputy will be aware, it is my intention to replace all purchased temporary accommodation with permanent accommodation, where the need is established, over the lifetime of my Department's Capital Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Furniture Provision (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Primary schools do not have canteen facilities so the issue of providing dining tables and chairs does not arise. Otherwise, my Department's Loose Furniture & Equipment Scheme is the mechanism for all schools - primary and post-primary - to apply for replacement furniture for teaching spaces and other spaces and to fund the purchase of individual items of furniture and equipment for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has no record of receiving an application from the school referred to by the Deputy. Should an application be received it will be considered and the school authority informed of the outcome.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of a further appeal from the school in respect of an application for additional accommodation. My Department has been in contact with the school authority on the matter and expects to be in a position to revert to the school shortly.