Results 24,961-24,980 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I did indeed visit the site and I can understand the Deputy's frustration. This project in Curraghmore is being delivered on my Department's behalf by the school’s local authority. The local authority recently notified officials that the project is six to eight weeks behind schedule and that a recent works programme provided by the contractor indicated a...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Deputy's concern. While there were some delays and unforeseen ground conditions, from the point of view of the design team the maximum delay should be six to eight weeks behind schedule and not the revised timeline. The local authority will be aware of the protections it has in the contract to ensure compliance and penalties in the event of failure. It is very clear the...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge what the Deputy has said. The Department has a diversified portfolio of approaches to building schools. We use the NDFA, the ETBs, the local authorities and public private partnerships. We have devolved design teams and the rapid delivery programme. We have a mixture. None of them is absolutely perfect. We have had difficulties of this nature in all of those streams. The...

Other Questions: State Examinations (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I see the motivation behind it. The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. I am informed by the commission that it regularly receives requests for assistance from candidates who either cannot take an examination or cannot perform to their optimum as a result of...

Other Questions: State Examinations (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand what the Deputy is saying but the State Examinations Commission has looked at how it can be flexible by giving rest breaks throughout the period of the exams and going to different venues and so on but it has confined it to the day the exam takes place. It is caught because of the CAO timeframe which is very definite. What is different from a higher education situation is that...

Other Questions: State Examinations (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy has illustrated the difficulty. She started by saying a very small number of people were involved, but at the end of her comments she said, of course, other people who may not have performed to their expectation should have a chance too. We would very rapidly have a significant repeat examination. This would require setting up not only the papers, but also the scoring framework,...

Other Questions: School Patronage (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I acknowledge the Deputy's continued interest in the issue. I know it is very frustrating for him and the community. As he will be aware, I announced new plans aimed at accelerating the provision of multidenominational and non-denominational schools throughout the country, in line with the choices of parents, families and school communities and the programme for Government commitment to...

Other Questions: School Patronage (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand the Deputy's perspective. It is good that the two sides are getting together and that it is not, as he described, just an exchange of correspondence that could go all around the houses. I recognise that this would be a very good outcome for the community. The Deputy understands that under the Act the Minister cannot make a decision by fiat on this. It is an issue for the...

Other Questions: School Patronage (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: As I am sure the Deputy has, I visit a number of community national schools which are based on the model the ETBs run. They are exemplary models. While they welcome children of the Catholic faith, they give an equal welcome for children of any other faith or of none. Every student is recognised and that diversity is valued. It becomes a feature and a strength of the school that such...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the question I have does not refer specifically to Castleblaney, I hope the answer is along the right lines. The reply refers to the demonstration project that was recently announced to provide an in-school and preschool therapy service, to be introduced for the 2018-19 school year. The project will be managed and co-ordinated by the National Council for Special Education. The model has...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The position is as outlined in the very last sentence of the reply. The Department supports the use of ABA and training is provided to teachers in its use. The philosophy of the Department's programme for the education of children with autism is a child-centred approach. It is delivered by special needs assistants and fully qualified professional teachers. They draw from a range of...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: From my understanding it is one of a range of interventions, and special schools or special classes will choose from that range. ABA informs all teaching in special schools and classes. Some schools came from a specific ABA background and there were 13 centres which were set up as private ABA pilots. Subsequently they were integrated as special schools within the Department of Education...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I welcome this question because it is a good report. It is a comprehensive review of the SNA scheme and the Government has noted the contents of the report. In response to the report, I have undertaken to develop proposals for the implementation of the recommendations and to return to Government, following engagement with the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform and Health, with a...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I welcome the interest in the report. There is the question of complex medical needs that is clearly highlighted in the report. The NCSE calls for a new approach that would involve ring-fencing nursing support in order that it would be part of a new approach to supporting schools and involve a range of therapies. As of today, nursing support provision is the responsibility of the...

Other Questions: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Yes, of course. The NCSE has recommended use of the term "inclusion support assistants" to move away from the idea of special need and in order to emphasise student independence. It is about allowing pupils to be included, gain their independence and develop. It is seen to be more appropriate as a pupil gets older and the concept of special needs assistant is less attuned with a growing...

Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: This question relates to the teaching of maths and whether those teaching it have the appropriate degrees. The Deputy will note that the performance of students in Ireland in mathematics and science is relatively high by international standards. The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study, TIMMS, to which she is referring, found that only six from 39 countries obtained...

Other Questions: Teaching Qualifications (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: We were near the top of the group at primary level and only Northern Ireland was ahead of us among European countries. At second level, no other European country was significantly ahead of us. We are not behind. The investment of €7 million and the 1,300 upgraded maths teachers have made an impact. We need to continue to work on the issue of teacher supply and it is something we...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: This question relates to Gaelscoil Bharra in Cabra. The school building was handed over for occupation on 1 September 2017. However, as part of the contract for the project, some outstanding works remain to be completed at the adjacent Naomh Fionnbarra GAA Club, including completion of the all-weather pitch and car park reinstatement work. There are also a number of snags to be resolved in...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The outstanding works concern Naomh Fionnbarra, the adjoining GAA club. The approach is that the bondsman has a liability. The quickest way to get the works done is if the bondsman exercises the right to bring in contractors and completes the work. The alternative would be more bureaucratic. It would involve the Department tendering for the works. We would then get it done and present...

Other Questions: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: That is exactly what the design team is seeking to do. They are looking to do it in the quickest possible way. We await.