Results 23,961-23,980 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Details, as requested, in relation to contracts awarded by my Department and aegis bodies are currently being compiled and this information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022), including a new 1,000 pupil post-primary school to be established in 2020 to serve the Tallaght and Newcastle-Rathcoole school planning areas as a regional solution. This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Site Acquisitions (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced the opening of 42 new schools over the next 4 years. This announcement followed nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the current and future need for primary and post-primary school places across the country. The school to which the Deputy refers was part of that announcement. In line with the policy on the use of...

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

Richard Bruton: I can confirm that my Department is in receipt of an application for additional accommodation from the school referred to by the Deputy. I understand the application has been considered and a decision is due to issue to the school authority in the matter in the coming days.

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

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department have been working closely with officials from the relevant Local Authority under the Memorandum of Understanding for the acquisition of school sites in order to identify and procure a suitable site for the school to which he refers. A comprehensive technical assessment of a significant number of identified site...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme Applications (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, under Category 9 - Curricular Requirement Works. The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is designed to allow schools to carry out small and medium sized building works that will improve and upgrade existing school buildings. The Summer Works Scheme (SWS) is a multi-annual Scheme.  Over...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Budgets (9 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 to 134, inclusive, together. My Department’s capital allocation for the years 2018 to 2022 is as follows: 2018 - €745m 2019 - €941m 2020 - €942m 2021 - €1,006m 2022 - €1,100m The capital funding available to my Department for the years 2018 to 2021 has been allocated across the various sectors as set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Staff (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 114 together. Chapter 4 - Maternity Protection Entitlements , Terms & Conditions of Employment for Registered Teachers in Recognised Primary and Post Primary Schools – Edition 2 issued by my Department details the Maternity Protection Entitlements for teachers. Paragraph 8 of Chapter 4 sets out the provisions as regards time off for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Tender documents for a replacement architect for the major building project at the school referred to by the Deputy are currently being prepared by my Department. It is expected that the Invitation to Tender for this appointment will issue week ending 18 May 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As there are no plans in my Department to carry out a national audit of potable water in schools, this has not been costed. There are already several mechanisms under which schools can address any issues with regard to the availability of tap drinking that they might have. These are the Summer Works Scheme, the Emergency Works Grant Scheme or, for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Facilities (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has in place detailed design guidelines for primary and post-primary schools. These guidelines, which are available on my Departments web-site, currently provide for a standard range of servery and eating facilities in the design of new Post Primary schools. At Post Primary level a kitchenette, 25m² in area, is provided off the General Purpose/Dining Area. These facilities...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Curriculum (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department fully supports the promotion of healthy lifestyles in schools and has issued circulars to support and strengthen schools’ efforts in developing in young people the skills and attitudes needed to make informed decisions about their health. Through the curriculum students are taught the key skills and knowledge to enable them to make healthier life...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Legislative Programme (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Government is committed to helping all children, including children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential. We have increased the budget in the special needs area by 43% since 2011 and doubled the number of special classes. As the Deputy will be aware the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016 was published in July 2016. The Bill which passed Committee Stage on...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Service Level Agreements (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: Contracts between design teams and schools on school building projects subscribe to the standard conditions of engagement that are applied across the entire public sector. These conditions are set out in Pillar 2 of the Capital Works Management Framework on the Construction Procurement website in a document entitled COE1 - Standard Conditions of Engagement for Consultancy Services...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Stage 2b Report for the major building project referred to by the Deputy was received in my Department in September 2017. This report was subsequently reviewed and comments issued to the Board of Management. In February 2018 my Department issued a letter to the school and its Design Team advising them of a timeframe for the progression of this project. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff Data (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: The issue raised by the Deputy would only impact on the grades of Services Officer and Cleaner at my Department. However, the staff presently engaged at these grades are on incremental pay scales and have extensive service and in recognition of this they are on the higher points of the scale which exceed the rate mentioned by the Deputy in his question. 

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Agencies Staff Data (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. My Department does not have any agency workers engaged at the Department presently. As such, the matter of disaggregation of salary scales among such workers does not arise.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (10 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...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Internet Safety (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the recently published report by the joint Oireachtas Committee on children and youth affairs regarding Cyber security and Young Adults. The recommendations from this report are under consideration, and will underpin and inform the development of the draft actions in the new Action Plan on Internet safety. My Department is working with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation Provision (10 May 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, I announced plans for the establishment of 42 new schools over the next four years (2019 to 2022). This announcement follows nationwide demographic exercises carried out by my Department into the future need for primary and post-primary schools across the country and the 4-year horizon will enable increased lead-in times for planning and delivery of the necessary...