Results 25,101-25,120 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The major building project referred to by the Deputy is currently at Stage 1 of the Architectural Planning Process. Stage 1 is the Preliminary Design Stage where the Design Team in conjunction with the school authority will analyse all the constraints of the site, develop a preferred design option and ensure that the preferred option is the best option for the delivery of the brief....

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further Education and Training Programmes Eligibility (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: This matter is being considered by the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and I understand a response will issue to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pupil-Teacher Ratio (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Improvements to the staffing schedule at primary level in Budget 2016 and Budget 2018 brings the teacher allocation ratio to the most favourable ever seen at primary level.  From this September, schools will operate on the basis of a general average of 1 classroom teacher for every 26 pupils with lower thresholds for DEIS Band 1 schools. In the last two years, we have hired...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: My amendments in this grouping all relate to a new provision that I am inserting in section 29F. On Committee Stage, Senator Ruane proposed an amendment providing that an applicant could seek a review of a decision of an appeals committee not to hear or determine appeal under section 29. At the time, I advised the Senator that I accepted the intention of her amendment but wished to have the...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: Amendment No. 11 provides for a review of the new section 37A of the Education Act 1998, which provides the Minister with the power to direct a school to open a special class following a report of the National Council for Special Education. The amendment requires the Minister to commence the review not later than three years after the new section 37A comes into operation, and that the...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Senators for this discussion. Perhaps I come from a different perspective but I certainly favour diversity in education. I believe that, as the Constitution sets out, parents are the primary educators. I believe that the State should try to facilitate parents to the best of its ability. That was the background to the approach. I had a consultation on this matter. Alternative...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: These are proofing amendments. Amendment No. 15 proposes to expand subsection 62(7)(e) to provide that, in the case of admission to a post-leaving certificate course or a further education and training course run by a recognised school, the school shall not be prohibited from ascertaining a student's academic ability, skills or aptitude for admission to such a course. Amendment No. 17...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I will begin by responding to Senator Gavan. Under the existing legislation, a second-level school that provides education through the medium of Irish is free to give priority to students who have attended a Gaelscoil. Such a school can have a feeder school policy because it is perfectly provided for. The general provisions of this Bill allow for such policies, which are already in place....

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: We have discussed this on Second Stage and on Committee Stage. Schools as of now are allowed to operate their own admissions policy. They have been allowed up to now to have waiting lists, to allow unrestricted preference for preschools, feeder schools, siblings, past pupils, religion. In all of these cases I am introducing restrictions where I feel they are appropriate. We will continue...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: We have had this debate previously. As Senator Ruane has recognised, section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 requires schools to develop codes of practice in accordance with statutory guidelines prepared by the former National Education Welfare Board, which is now the educational welfare service of Tusla. This body has been given statutory responsibility for overseeing the...

Seanad: Education (Admission to Schools) Bill 2016: Report and Final Stages (4 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank Senators for their interest in the Bill.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Designation (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has received an application from the Patron of the school in question. The application is being considered and my Department will be in further contact with the Patron as part of this process.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school. The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Energy Conservation (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is open to primary schools to use their minor works grants to install energy efficient light bulbs and/or heat pumps in their schools if they so wish. The capitation grant at both primary and post-primary level, which is for the general running costs of schools, may also be used for this purpose. My Department is currently engaged with the SEAI on the delivery of a National Energy...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Teachers' Remuneration (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: The public service agreements have allowed a programme of pay restoration for public servants to start. I negotiated, together with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, a 15-22% pay increase for new teachers. The agreements to date have restored an estimated 75% of the difference in pay for more recently recruited teachers and deliver convergence of the pay scales at...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Accommodation (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question recently wrote to my Department advising that it expects enrolments to increase in the coming academic year 2018/2019. My Department contacted the school and advised the principal that should enrolment increase to a level that would warrant the appointment of an additional teacher, it is then open to the school to re-activate its...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Contractors (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: A meeting of the stakeholders for the project to which the Deputy refers was held on 2 July last at the school to discuss outstanding issues on the project. A follow up meeting with the contractor is being arranged with the consulting engineer with a view to finalising matters including payments.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Superannuation Schemes (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: It is a matter for each ETB to determine whether a person is eligible to become a member of the relevant superannuation scheme in accordance with the relevant rules of admissibility to the scheme and regulations. However, each ETB must satisfy itself that the members of the organisation are eligible for admission to the scheme and it is not open to any ETB to allow persons who do not...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: HSE Properties (5 Jul 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department understands that the demolition of the HSE building in question is unlikely to be halted. The school referred to by the Deputy has recently advised my Department that an alternative area of land which is under the ownership of the HSE may be available. I understand that the school is exploring this directly with the HSE and that they will keep my Department updated with any...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (5 Jul 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 submitted the stage 2(b) report for the...