Results 25,561-25,580 of 32,583 for speaker:Richard Bruton

Prohibition of Fur Farming Bill 2018: First Stage (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I am sorry about that. My colleague stepped out.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations Appeals (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I also thank him for withdrawing it last week when I was unable to take it because I wanted to give it seriousness. I am pleased that Rebecca Carter got the course she wanted, which is great. However, the Deputy is right that we do not want young people having to go to court to get access to college courses. Since the ruling was made, as the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations Appeals (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: First, I do not accept the Deputy's contention that I should have directed the State Examinations Commission. It is an independent body and was established as such. In the case of any examination script where a student can apply for rectification, the commission has criteria whereby it re-tots and immediately gives the result. In other cases it does not provide for rectification because...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations Appeals (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy should look at the "blacks". He suggested it should not be independent and-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: State Examinations Appeals (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The Deputy did say it. If he looks at the Official Report, he will see what he said. The board has accepted the court judgment. It has rechecked and made a decision that its executive should review the unacceptable timelines. I have not seen the written judgment, nor have they. Obviously, they will have to see the written judgment, but from my point of view, we are determined to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department does not have a dedicated communications, press and public relations budget for 2018. As such, the profiling of expenditure does not arise. Any costs arising from the operation of the office are met from my Department's Miscellaneous subhead and accounted for in the Department's annual Appropriation Accounts.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a building project to deliver a major project at the school referred to is included on my Department's 6 Year Capital Programme. My Department has carried out a technical site visit at the school with a view to developing the project brief, which is currently being finalised. My Department will continue to liaise with the relevant authorities on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the new primary school for South Swords which I announced to open in 2019. A site identification process in respect of the new primary school announced for South Swords is currently underway. In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Early Retirement Scheme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department has no record of receiving a current application for retirement on pension on grounds of ill-health from the person referred to by the Deputy. On receipt of a fresh application from the person it will be processed in accordance with the established procedure for such cases as promptly as possible and a decision conveyed to the applicant. Entitlement to retire on grounds of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Meals Programme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998, the Board of Management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school. It is therefore a matter for each school to devise guidelines around the variants of food that are available on the school premises. The School Meals Programme is operated by my colleague, the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection and provides...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, a new primary school for South Swords was included in the 42 new schools I recently announced. A site identification process in respect of this new school is currently underway. In line with the policy on the use of state assets (Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circulars 11/15 and 17/16), my Department will be seeking to maximise the use of sites...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy may be aware, my Department is among the prescribed bodies with whom local authorities are obliged to liaise in respect of statutory planning processes such as those for Fosterstown. My Department engages with local authorities throughout these statutory planning processes with a view to ensuring adequate provision for school sites in the relevant area, based on projected...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Building Projects Status (2 Oct 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. This announcement included two new primary schools for Swords: one in North Swords and one in South Swords. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Project Ireland 2040 Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: The launch by my Department of the capital investment in education as part of Project Ireland 2040 was held on 14 September 2018 at Coláiste Ghlór na Mara, Balbriggan. I was in attendance with the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, T.D., the Minister of State for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O'Connor, T.D., and the Minister of State for Training, Skills, Innovation, Research and Development...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Schools Site Acquisitions (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: As the Deputy is aware, my recent announcement of 42 new schools included a new primary school to open in Newtownmountkennedy in 2019. A site identification process in respect of the permanent location of this school is currently underway.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Summer Works Scheme (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I can confirm to the Deputy that the school in question applied for funding under the Summer Works Scheme, Category 10 - External Environment Works to upgrade the school's play area. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently assessing the remaining applications, Categories 7-10, under Summer Woks Scheme 2016 - 2017, which will be delivered in 2019. The application...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Special Educational Needs Service Provision (2 Oct 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: Public Relations Contracts Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: My Department did not incur any expenditure on external public relations or communications advice to date in 2018. The Department did incur expenditure on advertising in 2018, however, it was not related to the categories outlined in your enquiry. In March 2018, a sum of €4,500.00 was expended on a public awareness video funded by the European Social Fund Managing Authority, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education and Training Boards (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: I wish to advise the Deputy that the building in question is not in the ownership of my Department. The owner of the building is Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Maternity Protection Entitlements (2 Oct 2018)

Richard Bruton: Circular letter 17/2013, issued by my Department, deals with the Maternity Protection entitlements, including provision for breastfeeding, for Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) in Recognised Primary and Post-Primary Schools. Paragraph 14.1 of Circular 0017/2013 states: "Within a twenty six week period after the birth of the child, a special needs assistant who has returned to work is entitled...